Don't have time to watch videos: CJI on plea against crackdown on CJP protesters

Chief Justice Surya Kant declined an urgent hearing in a plea over police excesses against CJP protestors. "Don't waste our time," the CJI told the lawyer who mentioned the matter.Police personnel stop Cockroach Janata Party supporters during a protest march near the Jantar Mantar. (PTI)"We are not interested in videos; we don't have time to watch," the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant remarked while refusing to urgently hear a plea seeking the Supreme Court's intervention over the police crackdown on student protesters on the day of the Cockroach Janta Party's Parliament march.The petition was mentioned Wednesday before the Chief Justice-led bench by a lawyer who urged the court to take up the matter of its own accord. The court, however, declined to entertain the plea."Don't waste our time, and don't waste your time," Chief Justice Surya Kant told the lawyer.The counsel argued that the students were protesting over issues of public importance, including the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, the conduct of the examination and reforms in the National Testing Agency (NTA). Cutting the lawyer short, the Chief Justice said, "Thank you very much."When the lawyer again referred to videos purportedly showing police excesses, the CJI firmly said, "We don't have time. We don't want to watch videos." On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court had also declined to urgently hear a similar plea over the police action, observing, "Don't drag the Court into this."The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has been spearheading protests over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and other examination-related issues. Incidentally, the satirical platform draws its name from remarks made earlier this year by Chief Justice Surya Kant, who used the word "cockroach" while referring to unemployed young people turning to journalism and activism.In the wake of massive backlash, he clarified that his remarks were aimed only at those with "fake and bogus degrees."- EndsPublished On: Jul 22, 2026 11:25 IST