NEW DELHI: In a shocking and reprehensible incident, a 71-year-old advocate hurled a shoe at the Chief Justice of India (CJI), B R Gavai, during the proceedings in Court Number 1.
The accused was allegedly unhappy with recent remarks made by the CJI during a PIL seeking restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol in the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.
Soon after the incident happened on Monday, Delhi Police arrested the accused, identified as Rakesh Kishore, who allegedly took out his shoes and threw them at the CJI around 11.36 am.
As he was being taken away, the lawyer was heard shouting, "Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge" (We will not tolerate insult of Sanatan Dharma). The CJI remained composed and urged lawyers present in the courtroom to continue with their arguments. "Don't get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me," the Chief Justice remarked.
As per a Delhi Police official, the accused was picked up by the security personnel and handed over to the security unit of the Supreme Court. "He is a resident of the Mayur Vihar area and a registered member of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)," the senior police officer said.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has suspended Advocate Rakesh Kishore. In an order issued by BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, the council said Kishore’s conduct “is inconsistent with the dignity of the court” and violates the Advocates Act, 1961 and Rules on Professional Conduct and Etiquette. The suspension takes immediate effect, debarring him from appearing, acting, pleading, or practising in any court or tribunal in India.
The BCI directed the Bar Council of Delhi to ensure compliance and notify all courts and bar associations of the suspension. The order also requires the lawyer to file an affidavit of compliance within 48 hours, confirming he will not appear in any case during the suspension period.
Disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against him, and he has been asked to explain within 15 days why the suspension should not continue.
According to sources, police are coordinating with the registrar general of the Supreme Court and conducting further investigation into the matter. Details about the exact motive behind the lawyer's act are awaited, police sources said.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta described the act as "unfortunate and condemnable", calling it a result of misinformation and an attempt at cheap publicity.
"Today's incident in the chief justice's court is unfortunate and deserves condemnation. This is the result of misinformation in social media. It is really heartening that the chief justice of India reacted with magnanimity.... I only hope that this magnanimity is not treated by others as the weakness of the institution," the top law officer said.
"I have personally seen the chief justice visiting religious places of all religions with full reverence. The chief justice has also clarified this position. It is not understood what prompted one miscreant to do what he did today. It appears to be an act of some attention seeker wanting cheap publicity," Mehta added.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising termed the episode "an attack on the institution as a whole".
"I am not an eyewitness to the incident. What I know, I know from what the press has reported. It calls for investigation. I consider it to be an attack on the institution as a whole, not just the chief justice," she said.
"I do consider it to be a casteist remark against the chief justice.... It requires a legal response from the Supreme Court of India," Jaising added.
Leaders across party lines strongly condemned the incident, calling it a disgraceful and alarming reflection of rising intolerance.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday condemned the attack as shameful and said the "mindless act" shows how hate and fanaticism have engulfed society.
"An attempt to attack the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India in the Supreme Court today is unprecedented, shameful and abhorrent. It is an attack on the dignity of our Judiciary and the rule of law," Kharge said in a post on X.
He said that it was disturbing that a sitting judge, who rose to the nation's highest judicial office through merit, integrity, and perseverance, was targeted in such a manner.
"It reflects an attempt to intimidate and humiliate a man who has broken social barriers to uphold the Constitution.
"Such a mindless act shows how hate, fanaticism and bigotry has engulfed our society in the past decade," the Congress president said.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi said the attack was not just an attack on Gavai but on the Constitution.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy termed it a “dark day in the country’s history,” expressing solidarity with the CJI. “Words cannot express my condemnation of this dastardly attempt to attack and intimidate the highest functionary of the country’s judiciary. His Lordship B R Gavai bravely declared he won’t be fazed or cowed down by such cowardly attacks,” he said in a post on X.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called the act “a reflection of the hatred spread by the Sangh Parivar,” warning against dismissing it as an isolated incident. “When communal fanaticism dares to target even the Chief Justice of India, it exposes the grave danger of this divisive and venomous politics,” he said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin also denounced the act, calling it “shameful” and “an attack on the highest judicial office of our democracy.” He said the CJI’s calm response reflected the strength of the institution but cautioned that “the oppressive and hierarchical mindset still lingers in our society.”
(With inputs from PTI and Online Desk)
