Section Of Media Misquoted Me, Criticised Only Those Who Join Professions With Fake Degrees: CJI Surya Kant Clarifies Remarks On Youth

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday issued a clarification over his oral remarks made during a court hearing yesterday, saying that a section of the media had misquoted him and wrongly portrayed his comments as a criticism of the youth of the country.

In a statement issued after the remarks triggered controversy online, the CJI said his observations were directed only against persons who had entered professions such as the legal field using fake or bogus degrees, and not against young people in general.

“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. Similar persons have sneaked into the media, social media, and other noble professions as well, and hence, they are like parasites,” the CJI said.

He added that it was baseless to suggest that he had criticised the youth of the nation.

“It is totally baseless to suggest that I criticised the youth of our nation. Not only am I proud of our present and future human resource, but every youth of India inspires me. 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 said.

While hearing a petition filed by a lawyer seeking senior designation by the Delhi High Court, the Chief Justice had commented that he had doubts about the genuineness of the law degrees of many advocates, especially those in Delhi, and was thinking of asking the CBI to verify their degrees.

During the hearing, the CJI had remarked that there were “parasites” attacking the system and made comments about unemployable youngsters taking up roles in media, social media, and activism.

“There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don't get any employment and don't have any place in the 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,” the CJI had said.