The recent ‘cockroach’ comment made by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has become a focal point of judicial discourse, sparking public criticism and social media uproar. Many accused the CJI of targeting the nation’s youth, a claim he now refutes. In an exclusive interview with Debayan Roy from Bar & Bench, CJI Kant clarified that his remark was directed at lawyers with fraudulent or unrecognized law degrees, not students or young individuals. He also highlighted the need for standardized protocols in reporting oral court proceedings to avoid misinterpretation.
CJI Surya Kant Clarifies Misreported Remarks
During a discussion about student protests, CJI Kant’s oral observations were widely reported, leading to public misunderstanding. He explained, “Whenever mentionings occur, the Registry briefs me on cases filed in the Supreme Court seeking urgent hearings. On that day, I was informed that no petition concerning student protests had been filed. Yet, someone made a mentioning as if a petition required urgent attention. That’s why I remarked, ‘Please don’t waste your time and my time.'”
CJI Kant emphasized that the Supreme Court is accessible to everyone. He stated he cannot openly invite litigation by asking someone to file a petition. If someone wished to file a case, he would never refuse. However, the lawyer involved had not filed any petition, only a one-page letter to the Secretary General. CJI Kant clarified that expecting suo motu action on such a basis was unreasonable.
Addressing Criticism and Social Media Attacks
Following the reported remarks, CJI Kant faced a barrage of criticism and social media attacks. He expressed concern that the public is entitled to accurate information and should not be misled by filtered and one-sided reporting. “Misreporting misleads the public, creating a negative image of the judiciary for baseless reasons,” he asserted.
Context of the ‘Cockroach’ Remark
Regarding the controversy over his ‘cockroach’ comment, CJI Kant clarified that it was made during discussions about lawyers with fake or false law degrees. He said, “The discussion was about fake lawyers becoming problematic in the legal system. It was in that context I said they were virtually like cockroaches.” He emphasized that the remark was not aimed at the youth.
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Call for Reporting Protocols
CJI Kant advocated for a protocol to govern court proceedings’ reporting, especially with the advent of live-streaming. He suggested that either the media should receive proper briefings or oral mentionings should not be reported, as they are largely administrative. “Mentioning is not a judicial observation; it’s an administrative function performed for convenience,” he explained.
Clarifying Court’s Stance on Media Reporting
The Supreme Court’s recent order aims to prevent unauthorized dissemination and commercial exploitation of courtroom videos while allowing bona fide news reporting. CJI Kant clarified, “The order doesn’t gag the press. News organizations can continue publishing recordings of court proceedings as they occurred.” The order targets social media platforms distorting judicial proceedings.
Need for Mindset Change in Reporting
CJI Kant emphasized the need to change the mindset that treats court proceedings as news sources. “Reporting should focus on new principles, jurisprudential growth, and issues important for society and marginalized communities,” he said. He criticized the monetization of out-of-context remarks, highlighting that the focus should be on significant developments benefiting the underprivileged.
