SC Seeks Centre's Response on Plea Over Commercial Misuse of CJI's Viral Remark, CJP Fallout

The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre, the Bar Council of India, the CBI and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on a petition seeking action against the alleged selective editing, circulation and commercial exploitation of oral observations made by the Chief Justice during a court hearing, remarks that later fuelled the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, issued the notices on Tuesday while hearing a petition filed by advocate Raja Choudhary, who appeared in person. The matter has been listed for September 10.

The petition alleges that clips of an oral remark made by the CJI during a May 15 hearing were selectively edited and later used in memes, videos, mimicry, political branding and other commercial content. It also raises concerns over alleged trademark appropriation and monetised circulation linked to the CJP, which emerged from that courtroom remark and subsequently grew into a satirical online campaign and youth movement, later associated with protests over the NEET-UG paper leak. The CJI has since clarified that his remarks were not directed at unemployed youth generally.

The petitioner has stressed that the plea does not seek to curb criticism, satire, democratic dissent or free speech, but seeks action against unauthorised commercial use and distortion of judicial observations.

The Supreme Court has not ordered a CBI probe at this stage. The four authorities will first respond to the allegations, after which the court will decide whether further investigation or other directions are warranted.