Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Saturday asserted that his remarks the previous day, in which he referred to some people as “cockroaches” and “parasites”, were not directed at the country’s youth but at individuals who entered professions like law and media using “fake and fictitious degrees”.
“It pains me to read how a section of the media misquoted my oral remarks made during the hearing in a frivolous case yesterday,” the CJI said in a statement on Saturday, stressing that he has “great respect” for Indian youth.
“What I specifically criticized were those who entered professions like lawyers with the help of fake and fake degrees. Similar people have infiltrated media, social media and other noble professions as well and are therefore like parasites,” the CJI explained.
Terming reports that he criticized unemployed youth as “completely baseless”, the CJI said: “Not only am I proud of our present and future human resources, I am inspired by all the youth of India.”
“It is no exaggeration to say that the Indian youth have great appreciation and respect for me, and I also see them as pillars of a developed India,” he added.
Read also:System for attacking “cockroaches”: reprimanding the Supreme Council due to the increasing attacks on the judiciary
The statement came a day after the CJI-led Supreme Court bench made strong oral remarks during the hearing on a plea on grant of senior advocate appointment.
The bench, also comprising Justice Joymalia Bagchi, was hearing a petition filed by advocate Sanjay Dubey seeking a contempt case over alleged delay by the Delhi High Court in implementing the Supreme Court’s guidelines on appointment of senior advocates.
The court declined to grant the petition, noting that the senior designation is a distinction “granted” by the court and not something that must be pursued through litigation.
“You’re following that. Does it sound right?” The bench wondered whether senior appointments were treated as a mere “status symbol”.
Judge Bagchi commented: “Is the mark of a senior lawyer a symbol of the status to be held or of your participation in the justice system?”
At one point, the bench told the petitioner: “The whole world may be eligible to become a senior (advocate), but at least you are not.”
The CJI also expressed concern over what he described as increasing attacks on institutions and the presence of people with questionable qualifications in professions such as law and media.
“There are young people who are like cockroaches, who do not get any job or do not have any place in the profession. Some of them become media persons, others become social media, RTI activists and other activists and start attacking everyone,” the CJI said.
The bench also referred to the issue of fake certificates in the law, with the international investigation committee noting that there are “thousands of fraudulent people wearing black robes with serious doubts about their certificates.”
“The CBI needs to do something,” he added, while also noting that union council bodies were unlikely to act because they “need their votes.”
As the hearing progressed, the petitioner apologized to the court and requested permission to withdraw his statement, which the court allowed.
