Ministers told to declare assets by August 31

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has directed his Cabinet colleagues to declare their assets and liabilities by August 31.

The directive follows a circular issued by the Union government on June 2, which makes it mandatory for the Council of Ministers to declare their assets and liabilities and indicate business interests to the Prime Minister in case of Union Council of Ministers and the Chief Minister for the State Cabinet Ministers.

Cabinet Secretary K. M. Chandrasekhar, on behalf of the Prime Minister, had written to the Union Ministers reminding them of the mandatory annual disclosure of assets and liabilities in accordance with the ‘Code of conduct for Ministers'. The same communication was forwarded to the State governments/Union Territories.

School Education Minister Sake Sailajanath on Thursday confirmed that Ministers had received the communiqué asking them to declare their assets. “I am going to do it on July 15,” he said adding that the exercise was very good to show transparency.

Another Minister said as part of the ‘code of conduct for Ministers', it was mandatory for them to declare their assets and liabilities.

“We had declared our assets and liabilities last year also and will do it this year too,” he said.

The Union government circular stated that in terms of the code of conduct, details in respect of assets, liabilities, business interests, conduct and management of any other business and employment of spouse and dependents under foreign government or organisation are required to be disclosed by the members of the Council of Ministers.

The circular specifically seeks declaration pertaining to all immovable property and total approximate value of shares, debentures, cash holdings, jewellery.

Another directive says that after taking office and as long as one remains in the office, the Minister shall furnish annually by August 31, a declaration regarding his assets and liabilities for the previous financial year.