A potential criminal contempt case looms for lawyer Rakesh Kishore following his attempt to throw a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai in the Supreme Court on Monday. The incident has prompted a Supreme Court lawyer to request Attorney General R. Venkataramani's consent to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against Kishore.
The incident occurred in Courtroom No. 1 during morning session. Kishore, 71, allegedly attempted to hurl a shoe at CJI Gavai while shouting slogans. Security personnel immediately restrained him. Witnesses reported that Kishore shouted, "Sanatan ka apman nahi sahega Hindustan" ("India will not tolerate disrespect towards Sanatan Dharma") as he was being escorted out. While some accounts suggest he threw a shoe, others indicate it may have been a rolled-up paper. Despite the disruption, CJI Gavai remained calm and continued with the proceedings, stating, "Don't get distracted by all this".
Advocate Subhash Chandran K.R. has written to the Attorney General, urging him to grant consent under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, to initiate criminal contempt proceedings. Chandran argues that Kishore's actions constitute a "gross interference with the administration of justice" and a "brazen attack on the dignity of the court". The letter asserts that Kishore's conduct undermines the authority of the Supreme Court and the Constitution. Chandran also highlighted Kishore's subsequent media statements, where he defended his actions and expressed no remorse, further aggravating the contempt. He contends that this behavior reflects a deliberate attempt to "scandalize the judiciary and erode public faith in the institution".
Following the incident, the Bar Council of India (BCI) immediately suspended Kishore, barring him from appearing in any court, tribunal, or authority in India. The BCI described his actions as "prima facie inconsistent with the dignity of the court" and "a blot on the legal fraternity". A show cause notice has been issued to Kishore, requiring him to explain why the suspension should not continue.
Kishore, enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi in 2009, claimed he acted out of "emotional pain" due to repeated judicial interference in Hindu religious matters and expressed no regret. He cited a specific instance where CJI Gavai purportedly mocked a PIL seeking the restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol, stating, "Go pray to the idol, ask the idol to restore its own head". Kishore said he "couldn't sleep after that judgment" and felt the "almighty was asking me every night how I could rest after such an insult". He also claimed that the judiciary acts differently depending on the communities involved.
The incident has drawn strong reactions from political parties and legal bodies. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) condemned the attempted attack, while opposition parties termed it "an assault on the Constitution". The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCOARA) also condemned the act.
The Delhi Police questioned Kishore for three hours but released him after the Supreme Court Registrar General declined to press charges. Despite the lack of criminal antecedents, Kishore's actions have sparked widespread discussion about courtroom security, respect for constitutional institutions, and the balance between religious sentiments and legal proceedings.
Another petition has been filed with the Attorney General seeking contempt action against a religious orator and a YouTuber for allegedly inciting the attack against CJI Gavai through their remarks.
