Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant issued a public clarification stating that media reports misquoted his earlier oral observations [1].

The clarification follows a controversy regarding remarks made during a court hearing for a case later described as frivolous [1]. The incident highlights the tension between judicial commentary and media interpretation in India's legal landscape.

Justice Surya Kant said he was pained that a section of the media misquoted his observations [1]. While some reports suggested he referred to unemployed youngsters as "cockroaches," the Chief Justice clarified that his criticism was directed at individuals who enter professions such as law and media using fake or bogus degrees [2, 3].

He described these specific individuals as "parasites" who infiltrate the legal system [3, 4]. Justice Surya Kant said his observations were aimed strictly at those using fraudulent credentials rather than the general youth population [2].

Addressing his view of the younger generation, Justice Surya Kant said that youth have respect for him, and that he sees them as pillars of a developed India [2]. The Chief Justice sought to correct the record to ensure his views on professional integrity were not mistaken for a critique of unemployed citizens [1, 3].

“"I am pained that a section of the media has misquoted my oral observations."”

This clarification attempts to mitigate a potential public relations crisis for the Indian judiciary by distinguishing between a critique of systemic fraud and a critique of a socio-economic class. By framing the 'parasites' comment as a strike against academic dishonesty rather than unemployment, the Chief Justice is reinforcing the court's stance on professional credentials while attempting to maintain a positive relationship with the nation's youth.