CJI Surya Kant Clarifies Cockroach Remark; Says It Referred to Fake Law Degree Holders, Not Students

Justice Surya Kant said he had been told that around 48,000 lawyers across the country allegedly held degrees that were not issued by the universities they claimed to have attended. According to him, the remark was made in that limited context, while discussing how such persons had entered the legal system.

"It was in that context that I said they were virtually like cockroaches," the CJI said, adding that the comment referred to "where they were coming from and how they had entered the system." He said it was incorrect to present the statement as one aimed at students or young citizens.

"It was never about the youth. That is why I said I had been completely misquoted," he told Bar and Bench. The clarification is significant because the controversy had moved beyond legal circles and gained wider attention online, where short clips and posts often stripped the remark of its stated context.

The issue also touches a deeper concern for the judiciary and legal profession. Fake or unrecognised law degrees undermine public trust, affect litigants and weaken professional standards. In India, the right to practise law depends on valid legal education, enrollment with a State Bar Council and compliance with regulatory requirements.

The legal profession is closely tied to access to justice. A person appearing as a lawyer can influence bail, property disputes, commercial cases, family matters and constitutional rights. If someone enters practice without a valid degree, clients may suffer financial loss, poor representation or irreversible legal damage.

Bar bodies and regulators have periodically raised concerns about verification of advocates' credentials. The issue is not only about individual misconduct. It also affects court efficiency, ethical discipline and the credibility of legal services. For a finance and business audience, the concern extends to commercial litigation, contract disputes and regulatory proceedings.

Companies, lenders, investors and individuals rely on qualified lawyers for due diligence, compliance, documentation and dispute resolution. Any weakness in professional verification increases transaction risk. It can also create uncertainty in cases where representation, filings or legal opinions come from persons later found to be unqualified.

CJI calls for protocol on reporting court proceedings

The Chief Justice also called for a clearer protocol on recording and reporting court proceedings. He said the Supreme Court's recent order on audio and video recordings is an interim measure and welcomed the Supreme Court Bar Association's initiative in raising the matter.

He suggested that oral mentionings should either be reported after a proper briefing or not reported at all, because they are prone to misinterpretation. The concern is that brief exchanges in court can travel widely online without the background needed to understand their legal or administrative purpose.

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