The controversy surrounding the viral Cockroach Janta Party reached the Supreme Court of India on Monday, where Chief Justice of India Surya Kant urged lawyers and the public not to react “so sentimentally” over the issue.
A bench led by CJI Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and VM Pancholi, declined urgent hearings on petitions linked to the movement, stating there was “no such grave urgency” in the matter.
‘Don’t Take It So Sentimentally’: CJI
The remarks came after advocates mentioned two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) related to the Cockroach Janta Party controversy during court proceedings.
One petitioner argued that the satirical movement was damaging the image of the judiciary.
Responding to the submissions, the CJI said:
“Don’t take it so sentimentally.”
The court clarified that the petitions would be examined in due course but did not consider the matter urgent enough for immediate hearing.
PILs Seek Probe Into Viral Movement
One of the petitions reportedly sought a CBI investigation into alleged fake advocates and bogus law degrees while also objecting to the monetisation and circulation of oral courtroom observations online.
Another plea directly targeted the Cockroach Janta Party campaign, which has rapidly become one of India’s biggest social media phenomena.
The petitioners argued that courtroom comments were being distorted and used to attack institutions online.
How the Controversy Began
The controversy started after oral remarks made by CJI Surya Kant during a hearing related to fake law degrees and senior advocate designations.
During the proceedings, the CJI criticised individuals allegedly using fake qualifications and referred to “parasites of society.” He also remarked that some unemployed youth behave “like cockroaches” while targeting institutions through social media activism and RTI campaigns.
The comments quickly went viral online and triggered backlash, with many social media users accusing the judiciary of insulting unemployed youth.
Later, the CJI clarified that his remarks were being “misquoted” and were directed at people using fake and bogus degrees — not unemployed youth in general.
Rise of the Cockroach Janta Party
The online movement was founded by Abhijeet Dipke, who describes the initiative as satire aimed at highlighting frustration among unemployed and politically disillusioned youth.
Within days, the movement gained millions of followers on Instagram and other platforms, becoming a major internet talking point.
The campaign uses humour, memes, exaggerated slogans and mock political branding to discuss unemployment, inflation and governance issues.
Satirical Manifesto Goes Viral
The Cockroach Janta Party’s manifesto includes several viral demands, including:
- No post-retirement Rajya Sabha seats for Chief Justices
- Electoral reforms
- Stronger action against misinformation
- More representation for women
- Longer bans for defecting politicians
Its anti-establishment tone has resonated strongly online, especially among younger social media users.
Supreme Court Urges Calm Amid Debate
The Supreme Court’s response signals caution over escalating public narratives around the judiciary and online activism.
While the court did not comment on the merits of the movement itself, the CJI’s remarks suggested that institutions should not overreact to internet satire and viral commentary.
The controversy continues to dominate political and legal discussions as the Cockroach Janta Party phenomenon grows rapidly across social media platforms.
