Information about Assets Owned by Central Government Employees’ Spouses Delhi High Court Grants Interim Ban

Delhi High Court Grants Interim Ban on Providing Information about Assets Owned by Central Government Employees’ Spouses

The Delhi High Court has imposed an interim ban on one of the conditions of the Lokpal Act, which stipulates that in addition to the details of the properties owned by himself/herself, the Central Government employee must also submit information about the properties and assets owned by the spouse and children.
Since 2011, it has been made compulsory for higher officials to submit annual reports containing details of the immovable properties owned by them. But, now it was ordered as per the Lokpal Act, that all Central Government employees (Group A, B, and C) must submit the details of their properties and liabilities on or before September 15. The deadline has now been extended to 15th December 2014. And, collecting of these informations would be then be put up by the respective ministries on their website.

Along with information of properties possessed by them, Central Government employees will also have to submit details of the properties owned by their spouses and children. The rule is applicable to male and female Central Government employees.

Details that have to be presented by the Central Government employee, regarding properties owned by him, his spouse and children include –

• Liquid cash
• Cash in savings accounts and all other deposits
• Investments in bonds, debentures and mutual funds
• Investments in Post Office Monthly Income Schemes, and insurance plans
• Details of investments in new pension investment schemes
• Motor vehicle registration numbers and value
• Jewellery, gold and other precious metals (details of the weights)
• Details of the immovable properties (plot/house/flat/commercial establishment/industry, etc.)
• Details of debts and liabilities (of self/spouse’s/children’s)

Meanwhile, opposition to this order issued by the Centre continues to grow. A petition was presented at the Delhi High Court praying for revoking the order, stating that it was wrong on the part of the Government to demand details of the properties owned by the spouses and children of the Central Government employees.

After examining the petition, Justices Raghavendra Bhatt and Vipin Singh, of the Delhi High Court have issued a conditional interim stay on the orders demanding information on the properties owned by the spouses and children of the Central Government employees.

Final orders will be issued in the month of November. Until then, the interim ban is applicable to all the Central Government employees.