The Supreme Court raised concerns over alleged fake law degrees among advocates while hearing a plea linked to senior advocate designation in the Delhi High Court.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant (Pic courtesy: ANI)
The Supreme Court on Friday voiced serious concern over the rising number of alleged fake law degree holders practising in courts, with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant making sharp remarks on lawyers using social media platforms to attack the judiciary and legal system.
Hearing a plea linked to the designation of senior advocates in the Delhi High Court, the apex court indicated that the issue of questionable law degrees among some advocates may require investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
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The remarks came amid growing scrutiny over the conduct of certain lawyers online and repeated litigation surrounding senior advocate designation rules. The bench also questioned whether the prestige attached to the designation was overshadowing the larger responsibility of strengthening the justice delivery system.
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A bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that there were “thousands of fraudulent people wearing black robes” whose degrees were under serious doubt.
“I have serious doubts about the genuineness of their law degrees,” the CJI remarked during the hearing, adding that he was waiting for an appropriate case to order a CBI probe into the issue involving several Delhi-based advocates.
Referring to social media activity by some lawyers, the CJI said the court was closely watching the content being circulated online.
“The things they are posting on Facebook, YouTube, etc., do they think we are not watching?” he said.
The court also took objection to the language allegedly used on social media by advocate Sanjay Dubey, who appeared for the petitioner in the matter.
“Let people understand the kind of language you are using on Facebook. I will show you what discipline in the profession means,” the CJI told the lawyer during the proceedings.
In another strong observation, the CJI criticised unemployed youngsters who, according to him, resort to activism and online attacks instead of building professional careers.
“There are already parasites of society who attack the system, and you want to join hands with them?” he said.
The CJI further remarked that some unemployed youths become “media”, “social media”, “RTI activists” or “other activists” and start targeting institutions and individuals.
Justice Bagchi, meanwhile, questioned whether the designation of senior advocate was increasingly being treated as a status symbol rather than an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the legal system.
The case related to a plea alleging that the Delhi High Court had failed to implement the Supreme Court’s guidelines regarding the designation of senior advocates.
During the hearing, the apex court declined to entertain the petition. Following the court’s observations, the petitioner chose to withdraw the plea.
The lawyer had earlier challenged the Delhi High Court’s decision refusing to consider him for designation as a senior advocate. He had also filed a contempt petition alleging non-compliance with earlier Supreme Court directions, but the apex court had dismissed that plea in December last year.
The observations were made during Friday’s hearing before the Supreme Court.
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