Delhi HC refuses urgent hearing on plea against Cockroach Janta Party protest
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The Delhi High Court on Friday declined to urgently hear a petition seeking preventive action in connection with a protest planned by the Cockroach Janta Party on Saturday.
The petition was filed by Delhi-based activist group Save India Foundation, which sought directions to the Union government, Delhi Police, and other authorities to take preventive and regulatory measures to maintain law and order during the proposed agitation.
The protest has been called by Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijit Dipke, who is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the cancellation of the undergraduate NEET medical entrance examination over a paper leak.
The Save India Foundation argued that an unregulated protest could affect public safety, traffic movement, and security in the national capital. The organisation also alleged that some online content related to the mobilisation contained inflammatory messages, warnings against law enforcement action, and calls to disrupt public infrastructure.
The matter was mentioned before a vacation bench comprising Justices Saurabh Banerjee and Amit Sharma. However, the bench declined to grant an urgent hearing.
The Cockroach Janta Party describes itself as a "political front of the youth, by the youth, for the youth". The campaign was launched on May 16 following reports about remarks attributed to Chief Justice Surya Kant, in which some unemployed youngsters were compared to "cockroaches".
The campaign has since gained significant traction online, claiming more than 22 million Instagram followers.
Chief Justice Kant later said he had been misquoted and denied criticising young people in general. He clarified that his remarks were directed at individuals who had entered the legal profession using fake or bogus degrees.