Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Saturday issued a clarification on his purported “youngsters like cockroaches” remark, blaming a “section of the media” for misquoting his oral observations.
The CJI said that he had specifically criticised those who entered the legal and other professions with fake and bogus degrees.
“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,” CJI Surya Kant said.
He further added that similar persons have also entered the media and other professions, equating them to “parasites”.
“Similar persons have sneaked into the media, social media, and other noble professions, and hence they are like parasites. It is totally baseless to suggest that I criticised the youth of our nation,” he asserted.
The CJI further added that he is proud of India’s human resources and that every youth of the country “inspires” him.
“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 added.
What CJI Surya Kant had said?
His clarification came a day after he raised concerns over the “unemployed youngsters like cockroaches” entering the legal and other professions.
While hearing a petition filed by a lawyer seeking designation as a senior advocate, the CJI had orally remarked: “There are already parasites of society who attack the system and you want to join hands with them?”
He further added, “There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don’t get any employment or have any place in the profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, RTI activists and other activists and they start attacking everyone.”