'Youngsters like cockroaches': CJI on unemployed youth turning activists, attacking everyone

NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Friday likened some unemployed youngsters to "cockroaches", saying they end up becoming media persons, social media users and RTI activists who "start attacking everyone".

The remarks were made during a hearing before a bench of CJI Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, which was hearing a petition filed by a lawyer seeking designation as a senior advocate, news agency PTI reported.



Pulling up the petitioner for allegedly pursuing the designation, the bench said such status was conferred by the court and not something to be chased.

"The entire world may be eligible to become senior (advocate), but at least you are not entitled," the bench told the petitioner lawyer.

The CJI also warned that even if the Delhi high court were to grant the lawyer senior advocate designation, the Supreme Court of India could set it aside after examining his professional conduct.

Referring to the petitioner’s conduct and his social media posts, the bench observed that there were already "parasites" in society who attack institutions.

"There are already parasites of society who attack the system and you want to join hands with them?" the CJI said.

He then made the sharp remark that has triggered attention.

"There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don't get any employment or have any place in profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, RTI activists and other activists and they start attacking everyone," he said.

The bench also questioned the petitioner over whether he had no other pending litigation and asked if such conduct was befitting someone aspiring to be designated a senior advocate.

"Is this the conduct of a person who seeks to be designated as a senior advocate?" the bench asked.

It further said that senior advocate designation was not a status symbol to be pursued "ornamentally", and noted that the petitioner appeared to be actively lobbying for it.

During the hearing, the bench also made a separate observation about legal education, saying it wanted to ask the Central Bureau of Investigation to verify the degrees of many lawyers, as there were serious doubts over the genuineness of some law degrees.

It added that the Bar Council of India would not act on the issue because they “need their votes”.

The petitioner later apologised to the bench and sought permission to withdraw the plea, which the court allowed.