Supreme Court issues notices over misuse of judicial remarks

The Supreme Court of India has issued notices to the Central Government, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Bar Council of India (BCI), and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The petition alleges the commercial and social media exploitation of oral observations made by judges during court proceedings.

The plea specifically cites a May 15, 2026, remark by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant involving the word ‘cockroach’. The petitioner claims the remark was selectively edited and taken out of context to fuel social media campaigns, including one referred to as the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP), for political and commercial purposes.

In addition to concerns over the digital manipulation of judicial remarks, the petition seeks a CBI investigation into allegations of fraudulent legal credentials, specifically targeting individuals practicing law with fake degrees. The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for September 10, 2026.