‘Misquoted by media’: CJI Surya Kant clarifies ‘cockroaches’ remark on unemployed youth
‘Indian youth have great regard and respect for me, and I too see them as the pillars of a developed India,’ Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said.
CJI Surya Kant said he had specifically criticised those who have entered professions like the Bar (legal profession) with the aid of fake and bogus degrees. (File Photo) Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Saturday issued a clarification on his courtroom remarks in which he compared a section of unemployed youth to “cockroaches”, saying that he had been “misquoted” by sections of the media and his criticism was directed solely at those who had joined different professions through “fake or bogus degrees”.
“I am pained to read how a section of the media has misquoted my oral observations made during the hearing of a frivolous case yesterday. What I had specifically criticised were those who have entered professions like the Bar (legal profession) with the aid of fake and bogus degrees. Similar persons have sneaked into the media, social media, and other noble professions as well, and hence, they are like parasites. It is totally baseless to suggest that I criticised the youth of our nation. Not only am I proud of our present and future human resource, but every youth of India inspires me. It is not an exaggeration to say that Indian youth have great regard and respect for me, and I too see them as the pillars of a developed India,” the CJI said in his statement.
The clarification came a day after a hearing in the Supreme Court, when the bench comprising the CJI and Justice Joymalya Bagchi pulled up a lawyer who had filed a petition seeking directions to the Delhi High Court over the designation of a Senior Advocate, a status he himself was aspiring to.
Annoyed with what the bench called a “frivolous” petition, the CJI had made a series of observations from the bench. “There are already parasites of society who attack the system and you want to join hands with them? There are youngsters like cockroaches, they don’t get any employment, they 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… And you people file contempt petitions,” he had said.
The bench dismissed the plea, which was filed for the third time before the Supreme Court, and told the petitioner that “the whole world might be eligible for senior designation, but at least you are not.”
When the petitioner apologised and sought to withdraw his plea, the bench agreed.
The CJI had also voiced concern that a large number of law degrees in Delhi could be fake, and said he would want the CBI to verify them.
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