Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant likened some unemployed youth to cockroaches and on Friday reportedly said they would “become” media, social media and RTI activists and start attacking the system.
CJI Surya Kant made the comment while chastising the lawyer and objected to the language he used on social media.
Advocate Sanjay Dubey has filed a contempt of court suit over the Delhi High Court’s delay in implementing the guidelines for appointment of senior advocate laid down by the Supreme Court, the Bar and Bench said.
Why did the SC pick up the counsel?
According to PTI, the CJI was pulling up the lawyer for “following” the designation of a senior advocate. The court declined to hear the plea and took issue with the language advocate Dubey used on social media.
“Let people understand the kind of language you use on Facebook. I will show you the importance of discipline in this profession,” the CJI Bar and Bench was quoted as saying.
“Is the senior barrister label a status symbol that is decorative to be retained or for your participation in the court system?” Judge Bagchi asked.
“The whole world may be eligible to become a senior (lawyer), but at least you are not eligible,” the advocate told the lawyer, according to PTI.
The court also questioned whether the petitioner had any other lawsuits. “Is this the behavior of a person seeking to be labeled a senior advocate?” asked the bench.
According to PTI, it states that the appointment of senior advocate is given to a person and should not be pursued.
“Young as cockroaches…”
The bench said that there were already “parasites” in the company who were attacking the system and asked the petitioner if he wanted to join hands with them.
The CJI reportedly told the defense counsel, “If you people have no respect, do you expect outsiders to give you respect? There are already parasites in society who are attacking the system. And you want to shake hands with them?”
“There are young people like cockroaches who don’t get any job and have no place in the profession. Some of them become media, some become social media, some of them become RTI activists, some of them become other activists and start attacking everyone…,” CJI Surya Kant said, according to Live Law.
“And you people file contempt motions because the Superior Court won’t handle something. Bullshit!” the CJI said according to the Bar and Bench.
“I am extremely sorry if I have offended you, my lord,” said petitioner Dubey as he finally moved to withdraw the plea.
“Lawyers with Fake Titles”
The Supreme Court also drew attention to the problem of the growing number of lawyers with fake degrees.
A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also observed during the hearing that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should ideally look into the issue of “lawyers with fake degrees”.
“Thousands of fraudulent people in black robes with serious doubts about educational attainment. CBI must do something,” CJI Surya Kant remarked.
