India, May 6 -- The Supreme Court's decision to make public the assets held by 21 of its 33 sitting judges and publish the entire process of appointments to high courts for the past four years is unprecedented and a welcome step towards judicial transparency. It comes at a time when the court's public (and deserved) reputation of unimpeachable integrity is under a cloud over allegations of a massive cash haul being recovered at the residence of then-Delhi High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma. Varma has since been transferred to the Allahabad High Court.

The developments - signed off by the full court - hold three broad takeaways. First, the public listing of asset details of 21 of the 33 sitting judges, including Chief Justice of Ind...