Unemployed Youngsters Who're Like Cockroaches Become Activists & Start Attacking Every System: CJI Surya Kant

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Friday remarked that there are "unemployed youngsters" who are "like cockroaches" and, unable to find employment or establish themselves in any profession, become activists and start attacking every institution. The remarks were made while hearing a petition filed by an advocate against the Delhi High Court in relation to the process of conferring senior advocate designation.

"There are already parasites of society who attack the system and you want to join hands with them? There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don't get any employment and don't have any place in 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...and you people file contempt petitions!" the CJI observed.

A Bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing an application filed by the advocate, who appeared in person. The petitioner submitted that it was the third time he had approached the Supreme Court, alleging that the Delhi High Court had failed to comply with the apex court's earlier direction to expeditiously reconsider deferred or rejected applications for senior designation.

Appearing for the Delhi High Court, Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao informed the Bench that interviews in the ongoing senior designation process were currently underway.

The Bench, however, expressed strong displeasure over the repeated litigation initiated by the petitioner.

"The whole world might be eligible for senior designation, but at least you are not. If the High Court makes you senior, we will set it aside, seeing your professional conduct," CJI Kant told the advocate.

Justice Bagchi questioned the petitioner over his repeated filings.

"You have no other litigation, Sir? Apart from ensuring your senior designation? Is this the standing of a person who is expecting a senior designation?" he asked.

CJI Kant added, "You file contempt, then application!"

The Chief Justice initially dictated an order observing that the petitioner did not deserve senior designation as he was filing frivolous petitions. At that stage, the advocate apologised profusely and requested the Court to recall the observations.

Justice Bagchi emphasised that senior designation is an honour conferred by the Court and not something to be relentlessly pursued.

"Senior advocate status is something which is conferred, not pursued. Does it look proper that you pursue till the end of the world to get senior designation status?" Justice Bagchi remarked.

During the hearing, CJI Kant also said he had serious concerns about the quality of legal professionals who make allegations against the judiciary on social media.

"I am waiting for an appropriate case to order a CBI investigation into the LL.B. degrees of many Delhi advocates. I have serious doubts about the genuineness of their law degrees...the things they are posting on Facebook, YouTube etc., do they think we are not watching?" he observed.

After considering the advocate's apology, the Bench recalled its earlier observations against him and permitted the application to be withdrawn. The matter was accordingly dismissed as withdrawn.

The lawyer had last year filed a writ petition challenging the Delhi High Court's refusal to consider him for senior designation. Later, he filed a contempt petition, alleging that the High Court did not comply with an earlier direction of the Supreme Court. In December last year, the Supreme Court had dismissed his contempt petition.

Case : Sanjay Dubey v Registrar General, High Court of Delhi | MA No.1297/2026