On 15 May 2026, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant drew controversy after reported remarks comparing unemployed youth with media, social media, and RTI activism, with some reports quoting him as using the phrase “cockroaches” and “parasites”.
He later clarified that his remarks were misquoted and that he had been referring to persons using fake or bogus degrees to enter professions, not to youth broadly. The episode quickly became a public debate about the judiciary’s language and its effect on civic actors and young people.
Civil society-aligned commentators and online civic voices reacted, arguing that the reported remarks risked stigmatizing unemployed youth, RTI activists, journalists, and other civic actors, and could contribute to a chilling effect on public participation.
Combined with earlier remarks about reviewing law degrees and the broader criticism of RTI activists, media, and social media users, the controversial statement by the Chief Justice suggests a pattern of judicial hostility toward advocates who are outspoken or critical, affecting broader exercise of freedom of expression.