Lawyer Who Threw Shoe at CJI Gavai Expelled by Supreme Court Bar Association
New Delhi:
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Thursday terminated the membership of advocate Rakesh Kishore, the lawyer who attempted to attack Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai during court proceedings earlier this week.
The executive committee of the SCBA stated that Kishore’s conduct constituted “a direct attack on the independence of the judiciary, the sanctity of court proceedings, and the long-standing relationship of mutual respect between the Bar and the Bench.”
Kishore, who held temporary membership in the association, has been removed from the membership rolls with immediate effect, and his SCBA card has been cancelled. The association confirmed that the Secretary-General of the Supreme Court has been formally notified of this action.
The Incident
The unprecedented disruption occurred on Monday, October 6, 2025, inside Court No. 1 of the Supreme Court, when 71-year-old advocate Rakesh Kishore allegedly removed his shoe and hurled it toward CJI Gavai during the morning mentioning session.
Eyewitnesses said the shoe missed its target and landed near the front row as security personnel quickly restrained the lawyer. Kishore was heard shouting slogans such as “Sanatan ka apmaan nahi sahenge” (“We will not tolerate insult to Sanatan Dharma”) before being escorted out.
CJI Gavai’s Response
In an extraordinary display of composure, Chief Justice Gavai calmly told those present:
“These things do not affect me. Please continue; we are not distracted.”
He reportedly instructed the security officers to take no action against the advocate, saying the court would not be distracted by provocations. The proceedings resumed shortly after.
The Motive
Investigations later revealed that Kishore was upset over remarks made by CJI Gavai during a September 16 hearing concerning the restoration of a damaged idol of Lord Vishnu at Khajuraho’s Javari Temple. In that earlier case, the Chief Justice had dismissed the petition as a “publicity interest litigation,” remarking that if the petitioner was a true devotee, he should “pray and meditate.”
The comment had drawn criticism on social media, with some groups claiming it insulted religious sentiment—anger that reportedly led to Kishore’s outburst.
Disciplinary and Legal Action
After the incident, Kishore was detained by court security and interrogated by Delhi Police for several hours before being released. The Supreme Court Registry, acting under the Chief Justice’s direction, declined to lodge a complaint.
However, professional and institutional sanctions followed swiftly.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) suspended Kishore’s licence to practise law pending disciplinary inquiry, declaring his conduct “a shameful assault on judicial dignity.”
With the SCBA’s latest decision to terminate his membership, the advocate is now barred from practising in the apex court and faces possible permanent disbarment once the BCI concludes its proceedings.
Reaction from the Legal Community
The move drew widespread support from the legal fraternity. Members of the All India Lawyers’ Union (AILU) staged demonstrations condemning the attack, calling it “a stain on the image of the Bar.”
Prominent senior advocates lauded the CJI’s restraint, describing it as “a lesson in judicial poise and constitutional grace.”
“The Chief Justice showed that true authority comes from calm, not retaliation,” said one senior lawyer. “This is how the judiciary protects both its dignity and the idea of justice.”
The Larger Message
The incident and its aftermath have sparked national debate on courtroom decorum, professional ethics, and the politicisation of faith within legal spaces.
For many observers, CJI Gavai’s restraint — coupled with firm institutional action from the Bar — has reinforced a timeless principle:
In the temple of justice, faith and fury bow before one supreme authority — the Constitution of India.
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