British Origin Birkbeck Professor Questions CJI Surya Kant Over 'Hostility To Dissent Within India' During UK Lecture

A recent lecture by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant at the at Birkbeck College, University of London, during his ongoing visit to the United Kingdom has sparked controversy

During the lecture, a question was posed to CJI Kant about alleged hostility to dissent in India which was quickly stopped by the anchor before it could be completed. The clip has since circulated on social media. Notably, the question was posed by a Senior Lecturer Dr. Kalpana Wilson at Birkbeck's School of Social Sciences who seemed to be recording the interaction. This points towards the aspect of the question possibly being a premeditated one aiming to create controversy.

CJI delivered a lecture on ‘Artificial Intelligence and International Law’ at Birkbeck College, University of London. In the interactive session that followed, the lecturer who was in the audience asked, "We now hear from a number of legal observers within the country as well as internationally that there's a great deal of concern about growing hostility to dissent within India. And it does seem that this hostility is somewhat reflected in His Lordship's speech and it's very well publicized." She appeared to be referring to the CJI's recent remarks in India.

Ms. Wilson was not allowed to complete the question as a man on the stage declined to take it. "With all due respect, I'm so sorry, I would not be able to take up that question since the topic is concerning artificial intelligence and international law. So sorry. I'm extremely sorry, I'm extremely sorry. We'll have to cut it off," he told her.

A separate clip has also been circulating from the event where another attendee was heard saying, "Give us some respect please!".

The question posed to CJI Kant possibly comes from his recent remarks on growing trend of lawyers becoming activists to attack the institutions. "There are youngsters who do not get any employment, who do not have any place in the profession, they become social media, they become RTI activist and they start attacking everyone...", the CJI had said recently while comparing such people to cockroaches and parasites. Later, CJI Kant clarified his controversial remark, stating that media has misquoted his oral observations which were made during hearing of a frivolous case. “I am pained to read how a section of the media has misquoted my oral observations made during the hearing of a frivolous case yesterday. What I had specifically criticised were those who have entered professions like the Bar (legal profession) with the aid of fake and bogus degrees. Similar persons have sneaked into the media, social media, and other noble professions as well, and hence, they are like parasites," CJI Kant had said.

In his lecture at Birkbeck, CJI said that choices made during this decade will shape the relationship between technology, power, freedom, and justice for generations to come. “Technology itself is neither inherently benevolent nor inherently harmful. Its impact depends upon the legal, political, and ethical frameworks within which societies choose to deploy it. The responsibility of law, therefore, is neither to resist technological progress nor to surrender unquestioningly before it. Its responsibility is to ensure that technological power remains accountable to constitutional values, democratic legitimacy, and human dignity,” he said.