Reacting to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a lawyer against the Cockroach Janta Party, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Monday stated, 'Don't take it so sentimentally.' The plea, submitted in the Supreme Court, alleged that a distorted and malicious narrative was being promoted to defame the judiciary, despite the CJI's earlier clarification regarding his controversial 'cockroach' remark.
No Grave Urgency, Says CJI
The CJI observed that there was no immediate urgency in the matter and assured that the apex court would examine the pleas in due course. One of the PILs sought directions to restrain the use of courtroom exchanges for commercial purposes, while also calling for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into allegations concerning fake law degrees.
Second PIL Seeks CBI Probe
Another PIL requested a CBI investigation into activities linked to the 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP), a satirical online campaign that emerged after the CJI's 'cockroach' remark sparked widespread debate on social media. The CJI later clarified that his remarks, aimed at individuals allegedly entering the legal profession with 'fake and bogus degrees,' had been taken out of context and misrepresented.
Satirical Movement Gains Momentum
What began as an online satire initiative has since evolved into a broader expression of digital dissent and youth frustration. The platform relies on memes and pointed political commentary to highlight concerns such as unemployment, exam paper leaks, and the state of education. Notably, the CJP website was taken down on Saturday, with founder Abhijeet Dipke accusing the government of displaying 'dictatorial behaviour' in a post on X. He further alleged receiving death threats following the campaign and claimed that authorities were targeting the satirical movement instead of acting against those responsible for examination irregularities.
Massive Following and Campaigns
The platform boasts over 22 million followers on Instagram, rapidly gaining popularity among millennials and Gen Z users. Recently, the organisation launched an online campaign demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged systemic lapses in the education sector and the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy. According to posts shared through backup social media accounts, the movement claimed to have crossed 'one million registered Cockroaches' within a week.
