NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Monday made light of a lawyer's emotive arguments accusing Abhijit Dipke, founder of the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), of attempting to denigrate and defame the judiciary. The CJI had earlier clarified that he respects the youth of India, a day after his 'cockroach' remark went viral and led to the formation of the CJP.
Petitioner Seeks Action Against Dipke
Advocate N K Goswami sought urgent listing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking action against Dipke for allegedly distorting the CJI's remark and commercially exploiting the situation using social media algorithms to sensationalize the issue by misquoting and misusing the CJI's remark without specifying the context. The bench led by CJI Surya Kant heard Goswami briefly and brushed aside the issue by advising him, "Don't take it so sentimentally."
CJI's Original Remark and Clarification
On May 16, the CJI had said that he used the term 'cockroach' to express his anguish over some people with ulterior motives practicing as advocates without having a law degree or with fake law degrees, and similar people doubling up as media and social media activists. The CJI later issued a statement clarifying his remarks: "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 criticized 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."
Allegations in the PIL
The PIL petitioner alleged that the founder of CJP is selectively quoting the CJI's courtroom observations and converting them into digitally marketable content with a political color to make it go viral on social media. The PIL stated that since the live telecast of courtroom proceedings commenced after the COVID-19 pandemic, clips of court proceedings are increasingly being converted into "viral spectacles detached from procedural context and constitutional seriousness" in digital ecosystems "governed by outrage algorithms, trolling culture, meme warfare, emotional mobilisation and monetised virality."
It further argued that such online behavior and machinations pose the threat of "organised digital humiliation" to constitutional post holders and institutions, attempting to harm their dignity and the faith reposed in them. The CJI, in his statement, had also said, "It is totally baseless to suggest that I criticised the youth. 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."
