Plea seeks action over viral clips
The petition alleges courtroom observations are being selectively circulated online
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday urged an advocate not to take the “Cockroach Janta Party” controversy “sentimentally” while hearing a plea seeking action against the alleged misuse of courtroom recordings and viral social media narratives targeting the judiciary.
The advocate had mentioned the matter before the Supreme Court, requesting an urgent hearing on a writ petition linked to the recent controversy surrounding the CJI’s “cockroach” remarks. He argued that despite a clarification issued by the Chief Justice earlier, a “distorted and malicious narrative” was still being spread online.
“Even after the clarification of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, a distorted and malicious narrative is being spread… the image of the institution is being demonised,” the petitioner submitted before the bench led by CJI Surya Kant.
Responding to the request, the Chief Justice remarked, “Don’t take it so sentimentally.” He further said there was “no such great emergency” in the matter and assured that the court would consider the petition in due course.
The petition seeks a declaration that oral exchanges during court proceedings should not be commercially exploited or selectively circulated in a way that distorts judicial functioning. It also calls for action against those allegedly using courtroom observations for publicity campaigns on social media.
Additionally, the plea seeks a CBI probe into claims made by the Chairman of the Bar Council of India regarding the existence of “35 to 40 per cent fake law degrees” among practising advocates.
During the hearing, the petitioner expressed concern over the growing misuse of judicial proceedings online, claiming that snippets of oral remarks made in court were being weaponised to malign the institution.
The controversy dates back to May 16, when CJI Surya Kant issued a clarification over media reports surrounding his earlier remarks about “parasites” and “cockroaches.” The Chief Justice had said he was “pained” by reports suggesting he had criticised the youth, clarifying instead that his observations were directed at individuals entering the legal profession using “fake and bogus degrees.”
The original remarks were made during the hearing of a petition concerning lawyers and activists allegedly targeting the judiciary. At the time, the Chief Justice had warned against attempts to misuse the legal profession and attack institutions through social media campaigns.
“There are already parasites of society who attack the system, and you want to join hands with them?” the CJI had observed during the hearing.
Referring to certain individuals active online, Justice Kant had also remarked, “There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don’t get any employment and don’t have any place in profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, some of them become RTI activists, some of them become other activists, and they start attacking everyone.”
He had also said the judiciary was closely monitoring online content targeting courts and judges. “The things they are posting on Facebook, YouTube etc — do they think we are not watching?” he had asked.
Justice Kant additionally expressed “serious doubts” over the authenticity of law degrees held by some advocates practising in Delhi.
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