It is high time the practice of submitting wealth statements by Supreme Court judges—which has been stalled for the past 13 years—was revived and made mandatory by the government. The last time Supreme Court judges submitted their wealth statements was in 2011, when then-Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque initiated the practice by submitting his own wealth statement to then-President Zillur Rahman. However, in the absence of a specific law or rule, this initiative has not continued.

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Disclosure of assets by state officials a much-needed step

Rights activists and legal experts have often called for a legal framework requiring judges to disclose their income and assets. This demand has become more relevant now as advisers to the interim government are themselves expected to disclose their wealth, with an ordinance to this effect reportedly in the works. Therefore, public disclosure of Supreme Court judges' wealth statements would not only enhance public trust but also reinforce the judiciary's prestige and integrity. Such a measure would help ensure that those entrusted with delivering justice and upholding the law are beyond reproach and free from corruption—qualities essential for maintaining the credibility of the judicial system.

One may recall that Chief Adviser Prof Yunus had previously underscored the need for government employees to regularly submit wealth statements, highlighting the current government's clear stance against corruption. Extending this requirement to all Supreme Court judges—as well as judges in lower courts—seems only to be the right thing to do to ensure the integrity of all public institutions.

Last September, in a significant step toward accountability, the interim government amended the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979, making it mandatory for public servants to submit annual wealth statements for themselves, their spouses, and dependents. Public servants who fail to comply with this requirement risk facing disciplinary action. Over the years, in the absence of such transparency measures, corruption has become widespread across the public service sector. Implementing wealth disclosure for judges should be seen as critical to addressing the potential risks of such corruption in the judicial system.

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The nine lives of a corrupt public servant

One may recall that Chief Adviser Prof Yunus had previously underscored the need for government employees to regularly submit wealth statements, highlighting the current government's clear stance against corruption. Extending this requirement to all Supreme Court judges—as well as judges in lower courts—seems only to be the right thing to do to ensure the integrity of all public institutions.

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With great power comes great scrutiny. State officials aren't above it

The interim government's stated goal is to create a governance system that is accountable to the people. To that end, it should promptly issue an ordinance mandating both the submission and public disclosure of judges' wealth statements, which could be formalised into law by a future elected government. Additionally, a robust mechanism should be established to thoroughly scrutinise these statements, so that anyone found involved in corruption can be held accountable.