The Supreme Court of India on Monday refused to urgently hear a petition seeking action against the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The court said the matter would be listed and heard later in the normal course.
The case was heard by a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi.
What Is the Petition About?
The petition was filed by advocate Raja Chaudhary. He demanded action against the Cockroach Janta Party and people allegedly using Supreme Court comments for publicity, online campaigns, and commercial benefits.
The plea also asked for an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation into fake lawyers, fake law degrees, impersonation in courts, and falling professional standards in the legal field.
During the hearing, the lawyer appearing for Chaudhary requested an urgent listing of the matter. However, the bench said there was “no grave urgency” and the case would be taken up later.
Court Tells Lawyer Not to Be Emotional
Another advocate, NK Goswami, appeared through video conferencing and said it was unfortunate that the Chief Justice’s earlier remarks had been distorted online despite clarification from the court. The bench responded by saying, “Don’t take it so sentimentally.”
How the Controversy Started
The controversy began after comments made by CJI Surya Kant on May 15 during a hearing related to senior designation in the Delhi High Court.
While speaking in court, the Chief Justice criticised people entering professions with fake degrees. He said some individuals become part of media, social media activism, and other professions after failing to find proper employment.
His remarks quickly spread across social media, with many users linking the comments to Indian youth in general.
CJI Later Issued Clarification
A day later, the Chief Justice clarified that his comments were being misquoted.
He said he was specifically talking about people using fake or bogus degrees to enter respected professions like law and media. He also stressed that he has full faith in India’s youth and considers them the future of the country. According to the clarification, the remarks were never aimed at all youngsters.
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Petition Raises Concerns Over Social Media Use
The petition claimed that the Cockroach Janta Party used edited courtroom remarks for satire, online engagement, merchandise promotion, and branding.
It argued that selective clips and viral social media posts can turn serious court proceedings into entertainment content. The plea warned that such trends may affect public trust in the judiciary over time. The petition also said constitutional institutions should not become targets of online trolling or commercial exploitation.
Fake Lawyers Issue Also Highlighted
The plea referred to recent comments reportedly made by Manan Kumar Mishra, chairman of the Bar Council of India. According to the report mentioned in the petition, Mishra claimed that 35 to 40 percent of people appearing in courts in lawyer uniforms may be fake practitioners. Based on this, the petitioner requested an independent investigation into fake advocates and fraudulent law degrees.
Supreme Court to Hear Matter Later
For now, the Supreme Court has only refused an urgent hearing. The main petition is still pending and will be heard at a later date.
The issue has sparked a wider discussion around freedom of speech, satire on social media, and the limits of using courtroom comments for online campaigns and commercial purposes.
