President to disclose assets
Source: The Sangai Express / TNN

Imphal, June 18 2011: The first citizen of India is a shining example of transparency.

Setting a precedent for ministers and bureaucrats � many of whom are yet to take the cue � President Pratibha Patil is all set to declare her assets.

Earlier this month, the prime minister had reminded the ministers about the annual declaration of assets and business interests along with that of their spouses.

Former cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar had also written to the ministers on this on June 2.More than 600 IAS officers of the 4,000-odd in the service have missed the May 31 deadline for declaration of assets, and the list of movable and immovable properties of IPS officers are still trickling in.

Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson Archana Dutta said: "The President of India is not required to declare his or her assets to any public authority.

However, President Mrs Pratibha Devisingh Patil has decided to make the assets of her and her family public" .

Chandrasekhar's letter had stated that ministers' disclosures consist of all immovable properties and the total approximate value of shares and debentures, cash holdings and jewellery apart from a list of their and families' business interests.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) on Thursday had suggested that it is not mandatory for the President to declare her assets since various other functionaries like ministers, judges and election commissioners are making the disclosure voluntarily.

Information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi passed the order, while underlining that the commission is not empowered to do so since it is not mandated under the RTI Act.

He made the observation while hearing a plea of RTI activist Subhash Agarwal, who sought details of the assets of the President and her family and the steps taken to put them on the website.

Sources in Rashtrapati Bhavan said Patil's decision has nothing to do with the CIC suggestion, and she wants to make the disclosures on her own accord.

The matter, sources said, had been on her mind ever since the issue came up with respect to the council of ministers, and is in keeping with the government's motto of transparency for all public office-bearers.

"There is no connection with the CIC order," the official added.

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