Insaaf Times Desk
A controversial incident occurred in the Supreme Court on Monday when 71-year-old lawyer Rakesh Kishore attempted to throw a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice B.R. Gavai. Eyewitnesses reported that Kishore approached the dais shouting, “India will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan Dharma.” Security personnel intervened immediately and prevented the act.
Following the incident, the Bar Council of India (BCI) suspended Kishore’s legal license with immediate effect, stating that the action was taken to maintain the dignity of the court.
Kishore told the media that his actions were driven by emotional distress and offense at a religious remark made by the CJI. He emphasized that his reaction was neither influenced by intoxication nor impulse, “I was not under the influence, nor did I take any drug. This was my reaction. I feel neither fear nor regret.”
Kishore said that during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed on 16 September, the CJI made a comment regarding the reconstruction of a Vishnu idol, stating: “Go tell the idol to fix its own head.” Kishore described this remark as an insult to Sanatan Dharma.
Kishore also questioned Justice Gavai’s caste identity, stating “He initially followed Sanatani Hinduism and later converted to Buddhism. If he changed his religion, how can he still be considered Dalit? This appears to be a mindset aimed at gaining political advantage.”
Earlier this month in Mauritius, CJI Gavai delivered a lecture stating “Governance in India runs on the rule of law, not the rule of bulldozers.”
He referenced a November 2024 judgment in which “bulldozer justice” was declared unconstitutional, emphasizing that such actions violate citizens’ fundamental rights.
The incident drew sharp reactions from both political and legal circles. Senior Karnataka lawyer B.V. Acharya described it as an “unprecedented offense”, while Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed it a result of “poisonous communal propaganda.”
Following the incident, security around the Supreme Court premises has been heightened. Experts have warned that maintaining court security and upholding the dignity of the judiciary is essential.
