sekarreporter1: https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/section-of-media-misquoted-me-criticised-only-those-who-join-professions-with-fake-degrees-cji-surya-kant-clarifies-remarks-on-youth-534448 [16/05, 19:03] Meta AI: *“Section Of Media Misquoted Me, Criticised Only Those Who Join Professions With Fake Degrees: CJI Surya Kant Clarifies Remarks On Youth”* _LiveLaw | May 16, 2026, 3:46 PM_

[16/05, 19:03] sekarreporter1: https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/section-of-media-misquoted-me-criticised-only-those-who-join-professions-with-fake-degrees-cji-surya-kant-clarifies-remarks-on-youth-534448
[16/05, 19:03] Meta AI: *“Section Of Media Misquoted Me, Criticised Only Those Who Join Professions With Fake Degrees: CJI Surya Kant Clarifies Remarks On Youth”*
_LiveLaw | May 16, 2026, 3:46 PM_

*1. What triggered the controversy – May 15 hearing*
During hearing of a _“frivolous case”_, CJI Surya Kant + Justice Joymalya Bagchi pulled up advocate Sanjay Dubey who sought contempt against Delhi HC over delay in senior advocate designation.

*CJI’s oral remarks in court*:
_“There are already parasites in society who attack the system and you want to join them? There are youngsters like cockroaches. They don’t get any employment and don’t have any place in the profession.”_
_“Some of them become media, some of them become social media, some of them become RTI activists and some of them become other activists. They start attacking everyone.”_

Bench also said it doubted genuineness of law degrees of many Delhi advocates and was considering asking *CBI to verify degrees*.

*2. CJI’s clarification – May 16, 2026*
Issued statement after uproar online:

1. *“Pained” by misquoting*: _“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.”_

2. *Target was fake degrees, not youth*: _“What I had specifically criticised 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.”_

3. *Denied criticizing youth*: _“It is totally baseless to suggest that I criticised the youth of our nation. Not only am I proud of our present and future human resource, but every youth of India inspires me… I too see them as the pillars of a developed India.”_

*3. Context of case*
1. *Petition*: Advocate Sanjay Dubey filed plea for senior designation by Delhi HC.
2. *Bench objection*: CJI said senior advocate status is _“conferred”_ by court, not pursued through litigation. Criticized petitioner’s _“contemptuous and vile remarks”_ on Facebook against judiciary.
3. *Fake degrees issue*: CJI noted doubts about genuineness of law degrees of many advocates, especially in Delhi. Considering CBI probe.

*4. Media reaction before clarification*
Headlines on May 15: _“Cockroaches Attacking System: SC Reproaches Unwarranted Attacks On Judiciary”_, _“Unemployed youngsters like cockroaches”_. Drew fire from lawyers, activists, politicians.

*Bottom line*: CJI Surya Kant on May 16 said his May 15 _“cockroaches/parasites”_ comment was misquoted. He was criticizing people with _“fake and bogus degrees”_ entering Bar, media, activism – not unemployed youth in general. He called Indian youth _“pillars of a developed India”_ and said he’s _“proud”_ of them.

Want details on the fake law degree issue in Delhi or the senior advocate designation rules?
[16/05, 19:03] sekarreporter1: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday issued a clarification over his oral remarks made during a court hearing yesterday, saying that a section of the media had misquoted him and wrongly portrayed his comments as a criticism of the youth of the country.

In a statement issued after the remarks triggered controversy online, the CJI said his observations were directed only against persons who had entered professions such as the legal field using fake or bogus degrees, and not against young people in general.

“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 criticised 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,” the CJI said.

He added that it was baseless to suggest that he had criticised the youth of the nation.

“It is totally baseless to suggest that I criticised the youth of our nation. 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,” he said.

While hearing a petition filed by a lawyer seeking senior designation by the Delhi High Court, the Chief Justice had commented that he had doubts about the genuineness of the law degrees of many advocates, especially those in Delhi, and was thinking of asking the CBI to verify their degrees.

During the hearing, the CJI had remarked that there were “parasites” attacking the system and made comments about unemployable youngsters taking up roles in media, social media, and activism.

“There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don't get any employment and don't have any place in the profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, some of them become RTI activists, some of them become other activists, and they start attacking everyone,” the CJI had said.
[16/05, 19:03] Meta AI: *CJI Surya Kant clarifies "cockroaches" remark – May 16, 2026*

*1. The clarification – May 16*
CJI Surya Kant issued a statement after his May 15 oral remarks sparked outrage online and in media.

*Key points*:
1. *Misquoted*: _“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.”_
2. *Actual target*: _“What I had specifically criticised were those who have entered professions like the Bar 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.”_
3. *Not about youth*: _“It is totally baseless to suggest that I criticised the youth of our nation. Not only am I proud of our present and future human resource, but every youth of India inspires me… I too see them as the pillars of a developed India.”_

*2. What he said in court – May 15, 2026*
During hearing of a plea by advocate Sanjay Dubey seeking senior advocate designation from Delhi HC:

1. *On fake degrees*: Expressed doubts about _“genuineness of the law degrees of many advocates, especially those in Delhi”_. Said he was _“thinking of asking the CBI to verify their degrees.”_
2. *Controversial remarks*: _“There are already parasites in society who attack the system and you want to join them? There are youngsters like cockroaches. They don’t get any employment and don’t have any place in the profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, some of them become RTI activists and some of them become other activists. They start attacking everyone.”_
3. *Context*: Bench of CJI Surya Kant + Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a _“frivolous case”_. CJI objected to petitioner’s contemptuous Facebook posts against judiciary.

*3. Why the clarification*
Media headlines May 15: _“Unemployed youngsters like cockroaches”_, _“CJI slams youth attacking system”_. This was read as blanket criticism of unemployed youth/activists.

CJI’s May 16 statement says his criticism was narrow: *only people using fake/bogus degrees to enter Bar, media, activism*. Not young people generally.

*4. Background issue – fake law degrees*
Delhi Bar Council and BCI have flagged fake law degrees for years. SC has earlier directed verification drives. CJI’s comment about CBI probe signals court may order verification of advocates’ credentials, especially those posting _“contemptuous and vile remarks”_.

*Bottom line*: CJI Surya Kant says he didn’t target youth or activists broadly. His _“cockroaches/parasites”_ comment was about _“those with fake degrees”_ infiltrating professions including law, media, social media. He called Indian youth _“pillars of a developed India”_.

Want details on the Delhi HC senior designation case or BCI’s fake degree verification process?