CJI Surya Kant’s London lecture disrupted; Indian High Commission calls behaviour unacceptable
The Indian High Commission in London has condemned the disruption of an event attended by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, calling audience conduct as unacceptable and inconsistent. In an official statement issued after the incident, the Commission said the heckling witnessed during the programme was unacceptable and stressed that differences of opinion should be expressed through respectful dialogues.
The incident took place at Birkbeck College in London on June 4, where Chief Justice Surya Kant was invited for a lecture on “Artificial Intelligence and International Law”.
During the Q&A session that followed, some attendees attempted to raise questions relating to alleged suppression of dissent in India. The question was referred to a recent remark made by the Chief Justice that had attracted public attention. The CJI had recently found himself at the centre of a controversy after remarks in which he compared Indian youths and activists to cockroaches and parasites of society. Following which, a party has been formed with the name of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), whose supporters have been protesting at Jantar Mantar today and also demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
A video circulating on social media shows one attendee linking the discussion on democracy and artificial intelligence to concerns raised by certain legal observers regarding dissent in India. Later, the video gained traction on social media that sparked debate among the user.
The lecture had been focused on the growing impact of artificial intelligence on global legal systems and international governance. The organizer had a clear instruction to restrict the discussion to the subject under consideration.
Responding to the incident, the Indian High Commission reiterated the importance of maintaining decorum at public and academic events. The Commission said that while differing viewpoints are the part of democratic discourse, they should be expressed respectfully and in a manner consistent with constructive engagement.