NEW DELHI - INDIA'S Supreme Court judges have voluntarily disclosed their assets, their website showed Tuesday, in a bid to promote transparency and boost confidence in the judicial system.

Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan led the charge, putting details of his belongings, including a nine-year-old hatchback car, 20 pieces of jewellery, three houses and land, on the court's official website.

Balakrishnan estimated his personal landed assets at 1.8 million rupees (S$50,715), while the second most senior judge, SH Kapadia, declared property worth 4.1 million rupees and one car.

Twenty other justices also put details of their assets on the website. Court officials said one remaining judge would soon reveal his wealth.

Last year, India, the world's second-fastest growing economy, slipped further in campaign group Transparency International's corruption index from 72nd to 85th in a list of 180 countries.

The anti-corruption watchdog questioned the merit of the judges' disclosures, saying there was no way to cross-check the information. -- AFP