The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Centre, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Bar Council of India (BCI) on a petition alleging the commercial exploitation and distortion of oral
observations made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during court proceedings, including their use by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
A bench headed by CJI Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notices on the plea filed by lawyer Raja Choudhary, who has also sought a probe into allegations concerning fake advocates, fraudulent law degrees and the activities of individuals associated with CJP.
The petition relates to observations made during a May 15 hearing, when the bench was discussing concerns surrounding professional standards in the legal fraternity, including the alleged misuse of judicial processes and the conferment of Senior Advocate designations.
According to the plea, portions of the proceedings containing metaphorical references to “cockroaches” were subsequently taken out of their original context, edited and circulated as memes and other digital content.
The petitioner alleged that the material was then used for commercial purposes and monetised across social media platforms.
The plea contends that the issue goes beyond criticism of the judiciary or legitimate political satire, and instead involves what it describes as organised commercial exploitation, trademark appropriation and monetisation of courtroom observations.
“Oral observations of constitutional courts cannot be transformed into commercially exploited digital content or for a viral political spectacle,” petitioner-cum-advocate Raja Choudhary told the bench, according to The Times Of India.
The petition seeks action against persons or entities allegedly involved in such activities, including those associated with CJP. It also asks authorities to examine allegations relating to fake legal practitioners and forged qualifications.
Also Read: Some Unemployed Youngsters ‘Like Cockroaches’ Become Activists, Attack Everyone, Says CJI
“Issue an appropriate writ, order, or direction directing competent authorities to examine and take action in accordance with law against persons/entities allegedly involved in commercial exploitation, trade mark appropriation, monetised circulation, or unauthorised commercial use of oral courtroom observations and symbolic expressions arising from proceedings before the Supreme Court of India, including activities associated with ‘Cockroach Janta Party’,” the plea said.
What Was The ‘Cockroach’ Remark?
The controversy dates back to the May 15 proceedings, during which the bench was discussing young people who, according to the court, were moving towards social media and RTI activism instead of pursuing legal practice.
“There are youngsters like cockroaches who are not getting employment in the profession. Some are on social media, some become RTI activists,” CJI Kant said.
The remarks subsequently triggered a significant social media reaction and became the basis for the formation of the Cockroach Janta Party, a satirical online collective that particularly attracted younger users.
The CJI later clarified that the observation was aimed at people allegedly entering professions using forged qualifications and fake degrees, rather than unemployed young Indians as a whole.
CJP subsequently expanded its activities into political protest, including a demonstration at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over the NEET-UG paper leak and other examination-related issues.
The movement attracted a large following on social media, with hundreds of thousands of followers on X and more than 22 million on Instagram, according to the petition’s background.
The plea specifically states that it does not seek to curtail criticism of courts, democratic dissent, satire or free speech guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. Its grievance, it says, concerns the alleged commercialisation and deliberate decontextualisation of judicial proceedings.
