Supreme Court Plea Challenges Cockroach Janta Party's Protest March Slated For September 5
Court has told the petitioners that if something alarming happens during the protest march, they can make a mention before Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court today heard a plea filed against the proposed protest march of the Cockroach Janata Party which is to be held on September 5 in New Delhi.
A CJI Surya Kant led bench issued notice to the Centre and the Delhi Police on the application while refusing to list the matter before September 5, despite requests were made by the applicant's lawyer Dr Rizwan Ahmed for an urgent hearing.
The bench also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana has posted the matter to September 10, to be heard along with other connected matters while observing that law and order is within the domain of the police and urgent concerns can be raised before the Centre and the Police.
"Can't they wait for 10 days for BRICS summit to end and then approach the Supreme Court for urgent mentioning...International media is here...there is no application with the concerned authorities..so many reasons to believe..that another mishap may happen..history won't remember the liniency..I am lawyer coming from Lucknow pro bono..to make sure these things do not happen again..," court was told today.
Advocate Ahmed told the bench that requisite permission for the march has not been obtained by the CJP. "The other side should also be heard..where is the permission...they are changing the provisions of BNS..Atleast you need permission of the thana..I grew up with this understanding..," he told the bench.
Another counsel told the bench, "Ye jo cockroach party wale hain...inka office kahan hai..kuch pata nhi hai, yeh riots ki category nhi hai...yeh ek unlawful assembly hai...police ka kya response hoga..".
The CJP has announced a protest march alleging that the Centre has failed to honor its commitment to drop the cases against the students who participated in the July protest over the NEET exam-paper leak.
Earlier today, Centre told the court that it has moved an application before the Supreme Court of India to quash the FIRs registered against student protesters involved in the NEET Paper leak protests invoking its special powers under Article 142 of the Constitution.
As the CJI Surya Kant led bench was rising for the day, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated, "I need to mention something..it is not right to mention when the bench is rising..but we have moved an application regarding the protests..for quashing of FIRs..we are invoking Article 142..".
In related news, Supreme Court has also issued notice in a Public Interest Litigation raising concerns over what it describes as the “commercial exploitation” and “algorithmic distortion” of judicial proceedings in the age of viral social media culture.
The plea specifically refers to activities allegedly associated with a so-called “Cockroach Janta Party,” claiming that courtroom exchanges are being converted into “digitally marketable content, political symbolism and viral commodities.”
It stems from proceedings held on May 15, 2026 in Sanjay Dubey vs Registrar General, High Court of Delhi & Anr., during which certain metaphorical expressions, including the word “cockroach”, were allegedly used in the course of courtroom exchanges concerning procedural misuse of courts, Senior Advocate designations, and declining professional standards within the legal system.
Case Title: SHIVAM UPADHYAY Vs UNION OF INDIA
Bench: CJI Kant, Justice Bagchi and Justice Mohana
Hearing Date: August 31, 2026