The law relating to judicial accountability, expected to come before the Cabinet tomorrow, has suggested that the proposed National Judicial Council (NJC) will frame a “code of ethics” for judges.

Sources said that as per the draft Bill, the NJC will be entrusted with the task of framing a code of ethics that includes declaration of assets by a person at the time of appointment as a judge and every year thereafter until retirement and reiteration of the existing code on impartiality, propriety and integrity.

The Judges (Inquiry) Bill, sources said, incorporates clauses on the recommendations of Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal: no High Court judge will form part of the NJC if a Supreme Court judge is being investigated; the NJC will not have powers to probe retired judges and in case the probe is against an NJC member, he/she will be excluded from the proceedings.