The Crossbill Team
A dramatic scene unfolded at the Supreme Court of India on Monday, October 6, when a man—identified as advocate Rakesh Kishore—attempted to throw an object at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai during the morning session of the court. While some reports said he hurled a shoe, others claimed it was a roll of paper.
Eyewitnesses said the man shouted, “Sanatan dharm ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan (India will not tolerate disrespect towards Sanatan Dharma),” as he was escorted out by security personnel.
The Chief Justice remained composed throughout the disruption.
“Don’t get distracted. We are not distracted by this,” CJI Gavai was quoted as saying by Live Law, urging a lawyer to continue submitting papers for the next case.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from across the legal and political spectrum. Senior advocate Indira Jaising called for a thorough probe, stating, “The lawyer must be named, and legal action taken against him. This appears to be a blatant casteist attack on the Supreme Court of India. It deserves to be condemned by all judges of the Supreme Court by a united press statement that ideological attacks will not be tolerated by the court. Befitting the court's dignity, the CJI Gavai went about judicial work with no visible disturbance.”
The attack came days after Chief Justice Gavai faced criticism on social media for his reported remarks on Lord Vishnu.
While refusing to entertain a public interest litigation seeking judicial intervention for the reconstruction of a damaged idol of Lord Vishnu in Khajuraho, the Chief Justice had remarked, “Go and ask the deity himself to do something.”
Following backlash, he clarified, “Someone told me the other day that the comments I made have been portrayed on social media in a certain manner. I respect all religions.”
Reacting to Monday’s incident, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X, “Such mindless act shows how hate, fanaticism and bigotry has engulfed our society in the past decade.”
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also condemned the attack, calling it “a reflection of the hatred spread by the Sangh Parivar.”
In immediate response, the Bar Council of India suspended advocate Rakesh Kishore’s licence.
Citing “prima facie material,” the BCI order stated that Kishore, enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi (No. D/1647/2009), “removed [his] sports shoes and attempted to hurl them towards the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India during ongoing proceedings, whereupon [he was] detained by security.” The order said such conduct was “inconsistent with the dignity of the court” and suspended him from practice with immediate effect.
The Bar Council of Delhi has been instructed to update Kishore’s status, notify all courts and tribunals, and submit a compliance report to the BCI within two days.
Congress Parliamentary Party president Sonia Gandhi also expressed strong disapproval.
“No words are adequate to condemn the attack on the Honourable Chief Justice of India in the Supreme Court itself. It is an assault not just on him but on our Constitution as well. Chief Justice Gavai has been very gracious but the nation must stand in solidarity with him unitedly with a deep sense of anguish and outrage,” she said.
Eyewitnesses said the man shouted, “Sanatan dharm ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan (India will not tolerate disrespect towards Sanatan Dharma),” as he was escorted out by security personnel.
The Chief Justice remained composed throughout the disruption.
“Don’t get distracted. We are not distracted by this,” CJI Gavai was quoted as saying by Live Law, urging a lawyer to continue submitting papers for the next case.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from across the legal and political spectrum. Senior advocate Indira Jaising called for a thorough probe, stating, “The lawyer must be named, and legal action taken against him. This appears to be a blatant casteist attack on the Supreme Court of India. It deserves to be condemned by all judges of the Supreme Court by a united press statement that ideological attacks will not be tolerated by the court. Befitting the court's dignity, the CJI Gavai went about judicial work with no visible disturbance.”
The attack came days after Chief Justice Gavai faced criticism on social media for his reported remarks on Lord Vishnu.
While refusing to entertain a public interest litigation seeking judicial intervention for the reconstruction of a damaged idol of Lord Vishnu in Khajuraho, the Chief Justice had remarked, “Go and ask the deity himself to do something.”
Following backlash, he clarified, “Someone told me the other day that the comments I made have been portrayed on social media in a certain manner. I respect all religions.”
Reacting to Monday’s incident, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X, “Such mindless act shows how hate, fanaticism and bigotry has engulfed our society in the past decade.”
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also condemned the attack, calling it “a reflection of the hatred spread by the Sangh Parivar.”
In immediate response, the Bar Council of India suspended advocate Rakesh Kishore’s licence.
Citing “prima facie material,” the BCI order stated that Kishore, enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi (No. D/1647/2009), “removed [his] sports shoes and attempted to hurl them towards the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India during ongoing proceedings, whereupon [he was] detained by security.” The order said such conduct was “inconsistent with the dignity of the court” and suspended him from practice with immediate effect.
The Bar Council of Delhi has been instructed to update Kishore’s status, notify all courts and tribunals, and submit a compliance report to the BCI within two days.
Congress Parliamentary Party president Sonia Gandhi also expressed strong disapproval.
“No words are adequate to condemn the attack on the Honourable Chief Justice of India in the Supreme Court itself. It is an assault not just on him but on our Constitution as well. Chief Justice Gavai has been very gracious but the nation must stand in solidarity with him unitedly with a deep sense of anguish and outrage,” she said.
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