Judicial Language Turns Injudicious

JUSTICE Surya Kant has literally stirred up a hornet’s nest by referring to unemployed, educated youth and those expressing views on social media who critique the government and its institutions as “Cockroaches,” attacking the system. At a time when youth are at a crossroads – educated but facing unemployment and no immediate job prospects, yet angry enough to express their views on social media – there could have been a better way to address these concerns with empathy befitting the Chief Justice’s office.

There are minimum expectations for honourables holding public offices, more so the office of a judge. Judges are expected to uphold not just the law, but also the dignity and credibility of the justice system. Hence the language they use matters. In the past the judges of this country were known for their eloquent, graceful, persuasive, and expressive orders. There was a time when judges were erudite, learned and used intellectually sophisticated language that was lucid and refined. Going back a few years, justices delivered their rulings and also interjected in court when the situation demanded, using elegant prose that impacted those listening to court proceedings. For a Chief Justice to term a generation of youth as “cockroaches” is not just demeaning but the metaphor is dehumanising. To reduce humans to the stature of insects like cockroaches, especially in a country facing serious unemployment anxieties is unpardonable. The CJI later clarified that his remarks targeted people using fake degrees and that he was “misquoted” as attacking unemployed youth. However, the episode exposed a larger issue: words spoken by judges carry their own weight and clarifications just don’t wash.

It is no surprise, therefore, that the youth, already under so much pressure would retort in a manner that made everyone sit up and take notice. Abhijeet Dipke, a youth with an imagination running wild, started the Cockroach Janta Party – CJP whose intent is to give back in equal measure to those who defamed them by calling them cockroaches. Dipke states that there are four criteria for joining the CPJ. A person must be unemployed, lazy, chronically online and can rant professionally. Their manifesto has four strategic points. If elected, the CJP will not grant a Rajya Sabha seat to any chief justice as a post retirement benefit. If a person is denied their vote, the Chief Election Commissioner would be arrested under UAPA since denying a citizen the right to vote is equal to an act of terror. The CPJ will reserve 50% of seats for women in parliament and those elected will hold 50% of cabinet seats. All media houses owned by Ambani and Adani shall have their licenses cancelled. Any MLA/MP who defects from one party to another shall be barred from holding public office for 20 years. Although the CJP is a satirical political group it has attracted over 3 to 4 million members since its launch. Currently pursuing his Masters Degree in Public Relations at Boston University, USA, Dipke has volunteered with the AAP from 2020-2023 working on a meme based digital campaigning that shaped the party’s online engagement in 2026. Dipke is the voice of GenZ and he and his followers cannot be taken for granted for satire has its space in a situation where free speech is being curtailed.