New Delhi: A shocking incident occurred in the Supreme Court today as advocate Rakesh Kishore attempted to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai during court proceedings. The incident has triggered widespread condemnation from political leaders across the spectrum, with Prime Minister Modi terming the act as "reprehensible".
The incident took place at approximately 11:35 am during the mentioning of cases in Court No. 1. According to eyewitnesses, Kishore approached the dais and attempted to throw his sports shoe at the CJI. Security personnel immediately intervened and escorted the lawyer out of the courtroom. No one was injured during the incident.
Following the incident, the Bar Council of India (BCI) immediately suspended Kishore's license, barring him from practicing law anywhere in the country. The BCI has also issued a show-cause notice to Kishore, giving him 15 days to respond. The Bar Council of Delhi has been directed to update Kishore's status and notify all courts and tribunals under its jurisdiction. The registries of the Supreme Court, all High Courts, and District Courts have been asked to circulate the order to all concerned Bar Associations.
Despite the disruption, CJI Gavai remained calm and composed. He urged lawyers to continue with their arguments, preserving the court's dignity. "Don't get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me," the Chief Justice remarked. He further told The Indian Express that he asked the lawyer arguing before him to “just ignore it”. He added that he only heard a sound and maybe the object landed on a table and that he heard the lawyer say, "maine Gavai saab ke taraf bheka tha".
Sources suggest that the attack may have been motivated by CJI Gavai's remarks made during a previous case related to the restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol at the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh. During the hearing on September 16, while dismissing a plea seeking the reconstruction of a dilapidated 7-foot-tall Lord Vishnu idol, CJI Gavai had said, "Go and ask the deity itself to do something now... So go and pray now". These comments sparked controversy on social media, with some accusing the CJI of hurting religious sentiments. Addressing the controversy two days later, CJI Gavai clarified that he respects all religions and that his comments were misrepresented.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his strong disapproval of the incident, calling CJI Gavai to personally convey his sentiments. Sources close to the Prime Minister stated that Modi was deeply disturbed by the attack and lauded CJI Gavai's composure in the face of such an assault. “I appreciated the calm displayed by Justice Gavai in the face of such a situation," the Prime Minister stated.
The incident has drawn parallels to a similar event that occurred 57 years ago when a knife-wielding attacker targeted CJI Hidayatullah. The legal community has widely condemned the attack, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the dignity and security of the courts.
