New Delhi, Aug 27 - Political parties Thursday welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court judges to make public their assets and put up the information on the website of the apex court for scrutiny.

'I think it is a welcome step; and more so because of the fact that rather than being imposed through legislation, it has emerged from introspection in the judiciary,' Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari told IANS.

Welcoming the decision, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MP and politburo member Brinda Karat said: 'It's a good decision, though belated.'

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also welcomed the step and said such efforts were needed to enhance transparency in a democracy.

'It is a good gesture definitely because steps like these are needed to enhance transparency in every pillar of democracy. However, the information should not be used or misused to target the judiciary,' Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, BJP vice president, told IANS.