New Delhi, Apr 24: Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan on Wednesday tried to defend the judiciary from criticism that judges were reluctant to declare their assets and claimed that contrary to perception, the judges of Supreme Court regularly declared their assets to him which was kept confidential.

Speaking at the 21st annual Kailash Nath Katju memorial lecture, the CJI took the opportunity to defend the lack of transparency surrounding declaration of assets and maintained that even though judges of SC and HC were not bound by rules to declare their assets it was being done voluntarily.

"Judges of higher judiciary have declared their assets to me and I am satisfied. It is given in a sealed cover. Judges are moral persons. Only trial court judges are bound by rules to declare assets," the CJI added.

The CJI's clarification came in response to an issue raised in his speech by eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani.