Chief Justice Critiques Unemployed Youth's Social Media Behavior
In a recent hearing, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud criticized the behavior of unemployed youth who misuse social media and RTI to attack others. He expressed concerns about the authenticity of law degrees among lawyers in Delhi, suggesting a need for investigation. The remarks were made during a reprimand of a lawyer seeking senior advocate status, highlighting broader societal issues and the challenges faced by young individuals in the profession. The Chief Justice's comments shed light on the intersection of social media, legal integrity, and the responsibilities of legal professionals.
May 15, 2026, 16:22 IST
Chief Justice's Remarks on Social Media and Legal Qualifications
On Friday, Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, drew attention to the behavior of unemployed youth, likening them to pests and parasites that attack others using social media and the Right to Information (RTI). These comments were made during a hearing where the bench, including Justice Joymalya Bagchi, reprimanded a lawyer seeking the designation of senior advocate. According to reports from a news agency, the bench told Sanjay Dubey, the lawyer representing the petitioner, that while many may qualify for the title of senior advocate, he certainly does not.
Chief Justice's Use of the Term 'Parasite' in Society
As reported by a media outlet, the Chief Justice stated that if the Delhi High Court were to grant the lawyer the senior advocate title, the Supreme Court would overturn it. He also referenced the language used by the petitioner's lawyer on Facebook. This led Chief Justice Chandrachud to discuss societal issues, pointing out that there are already parasites in society attacking the system, and the lawyer seemed eager to align with them. He remarked that many young individuals resemble cockroaches, lacking both employment and a place in the profession. Some turn to media, others become social media activists, RTI activists, and various other roles, launching attacks on everyone. Following this, the petitioner apologized to the bench and requested to withdraw the petition, which was granted.
However, the court also expressed concern over the increasing number of lawyers with fraudulent law degrees. The Chief Justice noted that they are waiting for a suitable case to order a CBI investigation into the law degrees of several lawyers in Delhi, whose social media posts raise suspicions. He stated, 'I have serious doubts about the authenticity of their law degrees... Do they think we are not observing their posts on Facebook, YouTube, etc.?'