Kerala HC first to make assets of judges public

Chief Justice S R Bannurmath has declared that he owns a 2413.54 sq m-plot in Dharwad district of Karnataka. Of this land,a “math” stands on

255 sq m,while houses have been built on 200 sq m.

The Chief Justice also has 1307 sq m-plot in the same area as well as a house in Sai Arpana Judicial Officers’ Lay-Out,Bangalore. He also has over Rs 13 lakh in three bank accounts in his name.

Among other assets,he has declared 20 gram gold jewellery as well as a diamond ring and one kg silverware which was gifted to him. His general provident fund (GPF) account has a balance of Rs 9.74 lakh.

Chief Justice Bannurmath’s wife Shailaja has a bank balance of Rs 4.23 lakh and a fixed deposit of Rs five lakh. She also has 945 gram gold and 1.5 kg of silver articles,including 500 gm that was gifted to her. The couple’s dependent child has Rs 17,539 in his bank account as well as some mutual fund shares. None of them has any vehicle or an outstanding loan.

Justice Kurian Joseph,the seniormost judge after the Chief Justice,has 39.47 ares of land — about 40 ares make one acre — of which 29.35 ares is jointly owned with his spouse. He has also declared that he owns a two-storeyed house built on 238.20 sq m. He has Rs 6,336 in his bank account,one gold sovereign,one 2004 Maruti Esteem car and an insurance policy. He is paying back two housing loans totalling Rs 25 lakh while his wife Ruby Kurian has no liabilities. She owns 23.92 ares land,Rs 11,047 in her account,50 gold sovereigns and has invested Rs 65,010 in mutual funds. Their daughter has five gold sovereign.

The third judge on the list,Justice P R Raman,has 6.13 cents land (one cent is 435.6 sq ft),a two-storeyed house,Rs 21,22,498 in his bank accounts,70 gm gold,a 1.1 carat diamond and about Rs 11.12 lakh other savings. His wife N P Vijayalakshmy has Rs 45,892 in her account,187.7 gm gold,1.1 kg silver and no liabilities while their daughter has 22.15 gm gold and investments of about Rs 35,000. None of them has a car.

Justice K Balakrishnan Nair has one-half share in 5.8 cents land in Ernakulam village,one-half share in 10 cents land in Thrikkakara village,one-half share in 8.7 cents land in Aluva West village and 19.83 ares in Muvattupuzha. He also has one-half share in buildings built on portions of the first two lands as well as a 482-sq ft office in Metro Plaza,Ernakulam.

His wife,Girija Balakrishnan,owns the other halves of the lands and buildings. He has Rs 1.79 lakh in his bank account,Rs 20 lakh in his provident fund and an insurance policy of Rs one lakh. He has no liabilities. His wife has 2,473 in her bank account,200 gm gold and one Maruti Zen car,Rs 24,990 invested in shares,Rs 6.5 lakh in PF,an insurance policy worth Rs 3.30 lakh. She still owes about Rs 3.77 lakh as housing loans.

Justice C N Ramachandran Nair has 2 acres and 85 cents agricultural land,one three-room flat,is constructing a three-room apartment,Rs 1,51,355 in his account,18 gm gold,about Rs 24 lakh in provident fund and an insurance policy of Rs two lakh. He has two outstanding loans totalling Rs 20 lakh.

His wife,K R Padmaja,has 1 acre & 27 cents of agricultural land,1/5th right in 60 cents land,a residential flat in Kakkanad village,another flat in Thrikkakara Panchayat and is also constructing a three-room apartment in Vazhakkala village,Ernakulam. She has a fixed deposit of Rs one lakh,Rs 1.2 lakh in her account,160 gm gold,and around Rs four lakh in other deposits and savings. She has also borrowed Rs six lakhs from her father’s brother.