CJI Surya Kant says media misquoted 'cockroaches' remark; criticism was against fake degree holders, not unemployed youth

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Saturday issued a clarification regarding his controversial "cockroach" remark, stating that the media misquoted his oral observations which were made during hearing of a frivolous case.

Media reports claimed that the CJI, while hearing a case on May 15, had likened the unemployed youth of the country to cockroaches and parasites.

However, the CJI on Saturday denied the same and expressed pain that media misquoted his remarks.

In the clarification, he said that his criticism was directed at persons entering the legal profession using fake and bogus degrees, not at unemployed youth.

"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 with the aid of fake and bogus degrees. Such persons have sneaked into media, social media, and other noble professions and hence they are like parasites," the CJI said in his statement.

The clarification came after the CJI's remarks during Thursday's hearing went viral, with several outlets reporting that he referred to unemployed young lawyers as cockroaches.

The remarks were made during the hearing of a contempt petition filed by advocate Sanjay Dubey against the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court, over alleged non-implementation of a Supreme Court judgment on the process of conferring senior designation.

During the hearing, a Bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi pulled up Dubey, with Justice Bagchi questioning whether the senior advocate tag was a status symbol or a tool for participation in the justice system.

The CJI had then observed that there were "youngsters like cockroaches who are not getting employment in the profession" and who turn to social media and RTI activism, adding that there were thousands of persons wearing black robes with "serious doubts about their degrees."

In his clarification issued on Saturday, the CJI was categorical that his remarks had been taken out of context.

"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," he said.