Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has strongly condemned a fabricated caste-related statement falsely attributed to him on social media platform X and warned that strict legal action would be initiated against those responsible for circulating the post.
The controversy arose after an X account identified as @UnreservedMERIT allegedly shared a post carrying a Hindi statement relating to caste and social representation along with a photograph of the CJI and the description ‘Chief Justice of India’. The post reportedly gained significant traction on social media before the statement was publicly denied by the CJI.
Reacting to the viral post, CJI Kant categorically clarified that he had never made any such remarks and described the content as completely false, fabricated and maliciously attributed to him. He stated that the assertions circulating online were baseless and did not reflect his views, judicial conduct or personal beliefs.
An official statement issued by the office of the Chief Justice of India on Saturday described the circulation of the ‘vile, brazen and mischievous’ statement as a serious attack on judicial integrity, constitutional values and public confidence in the justice delivery system. The office termed the social media post a deliberate act of misinformation and social incitement aimed at misleading the public by falsely invoking the authority of the country’s highest judicial office.
It further observed that manufacturing fictitious quotes and attributing them to constitutional functionaries amounted to a grave misuse of digital platforms and an act undermining the institutional credibility of the judiciary and the rule of law.
The CJI also urged citizens, media organisations and social media intermediaries to exercise due diligence and refrain from amplifying unverified or fabricated content capable of disturbing public order or eroding confidence in constitutional institutions.
Warning of serious legal consequences, CJI Kant stated that all available legal remedies and statutory mechanisms would be invoked against those responsible for creating and disseminating the fabricated content. He indicated that stringent action could be initiated against the perpetrators under applicable criminal, cyber and defamation laws relating to misinformation, impersonation and digital misuse.
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