‘Courts Not For Religious Ideas’: Senior Advocate On Attack On Chief Justice
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
CJI BR Gavai’s mother slams shoe attack in Supreme Court; Calls it assault on constitution
CJI BR Gavai’s mother slams shoe attack in Supreme Court; Calls it assault on constitution. Security personnel immediately intervened and escorted the accused out. While leaving, the accused shouted the slogan “We will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan” This slogan was likely in response to comments related to the hearing in the Khajuraho Vishnu idol restoration case. Former IAS officer E.Z. Khobragade suspected that the incident in the court might be linked to Kamaltai’s refusal to attend the RSS event. He said: “This is not just a caste-based case but a larger conspiracy. If the government does not take concrete action, such acts may increase”
Kamaltai Gavai, mother of CJI Bhushan Gavai, condemned the courtroom shoe-throwing incident as a threat to democracy and a plot to spread anarchy. She urged for strict action and reaffirmed faith in Ambedkar’s inclusive constitutional values.
Kamaltai Gavai, mother of CJI BR Gavai
New Delhi: Kamaltai Gavai, the 84-year-old mother of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R. Gavai, has strongly condemned the shoe-throwing incident in the Supreme Court. She called it an attack on the Constitution and a conspiracy to spread anarchy in the country.
What happened in the Supreme Court?
During a hearing in the Supreme Court on Monday, while a bench headed by CJI Bhushan Gavai was hearing a case, advocate Rakesh Kishore threw a shoe towards the podium. Security personnel immediately intervened and escorted the accused out.
While leaving, the accused shouted the slogan “We will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan.” This slogan was likely in response to comments related to the hearing in the Khajuraho Vishnu idol restoration case.
Lawyers protest at SC against Rakesh Kishore for bid to hurl shoe at CJI
Kamaltai Gawai’s statement: “This is a direct attack on the Constitution.”
Speaking to reporters in Amravati, Kamaltai said: “Such acts are tantamount to spreading anarchy in the country. Every citizen has the right to express dissent, but no one has the right to take the law into their own hands.”
She further said: “This is not just a personal attack but part of a poisonous ideology that must be stopped before it spreads. Insulting the Constitution is against the dignity of the country. The culprits must be severely punished.”
Kamaltai said that it is every citizen’s duty to protect the inclusive Constitution given by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar.
She appealed that “People should resolve their issues through peaceful and constitutional means and not resort to violence and frenzy.”
Possibility of not attending RSS event
Kamalatai recently refused to attend the RSS centenary celebrations in Amravati, which caused some Dalit organizations to express dissatisfaction.
SC: Lawyer attempts to throw shoe at Chief Justice Gavai; CJI says such incidents don’t matter
In this context, former IAS officer E.Z. Khobragade suspected that the incident in the court might be linked to Kamaltai’s refusal to attend the RSS event. He said: “This is not just a caste-based case but a larger conspiracy. If the government does not take concrete action, such acts may increase.”
Protest by Advocates’ Associations and Organizations
The Amravati District Advocates’ Association also strongly condemned the incident in the Supreme Court and protested at the District Collector’s office. They demanded immediate and strict action against the accused. Senior advocates called it an insult to the judiciary and the rule of law.
Bezawada Bar Association advocates protest attack on CJI
Advocates boycotted their duties and staged a demonstration denouncing the attack on Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice BR Gavai. The advocates, led by Bezawada Bar Association (BBA) president AK Bash, organised a protest rally from the Vijayawada Court Complex to Dr BR Smriti Vanam Park.
demonstration denouncing the uncivilised attack on Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice BR Gavai, by a senior advocate in the Supreme Court on Monday.
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On the occasion, the advocates, led by Bezawada Bar Association (BBA) president AK Bash, organised a protest rally from the Vijayawada Court Complex to Dr BR Smriti Vanam Park on MG Road via Besant Road on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, BBA President AK Basha demanded that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led govt at the Centre initiate immediate steps to curb such heinous attacks against advocates and judges in the country.
He said the attack on the CJI indicates that it is a direct attack on the Indian Constitution, and he wondered that when a CJI was directly attacked, there would be no protection for advocates in the country.
BBA member Naraharisetti Jyoti, condemning the attack, said: “When the govt fails to provide protection to the CJI, how could it safeguard a common woman advocate like me who is fighting to protect the law.” AP Bar Council members Chalasani Ajay Kumar, Sunkara Rajendra Prasad, and others were present.
Safeguarding the Sanctity of Justice: The Imperative to Protect India’s Judiciary in the Wake of the CJI Shoe-Throwing Incident
By Suresh Unnithan
The Supreme Court, the apex court of India, stands as the last resort for the citizens seeking justice—a beacon of hope when all other options fail. For the common man, denied redress elsewhere, the Supreme Court is the ultimate guardian of rights, the final arbiter of fairness, and the embodiment of the nation’s constitutional soul. An attack on this revered institution is nothing less than an assault on the nation itself and its people. Such an act strikes at the very sover…
The Supreme Court, the apex court of India, stands as the last resort for the citizens seeking justice—a beacon of hope when all other options fail. For the common man, denied redress elsewhere, the Supreme Court is the ultimate guardian of rights, the final arbiter of fairness, and the embodiment of the nation’s constitutional soul. An attack on this revered institution is nothing less than an assault on the nation itself and its people. Such an act strikes at the very sovereignty of our nation, undermining the democratic framework that binds its citizens. On October 6, 2025, this sanctity was brazenly violated when senior advocate Rakesh Kishore hurled a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai in Court No. 1, an act that reverberates as a direct affront to the nation’s sovereignty and a war on its democratic ideals.
This was no mere outburst of individual frustration. Kishore, described by sources as aligned with right-wing ideologies, invoked the banner of religious sentiment in a space meant for impartial adjudication, targeting the CJI over his remarks on Sanatan Dharma. Videos circulating on social media captured the chaos: the shoe arcing toward the bench, security personnel scrambling, and the courtroom gasping in disbelief. Police reports indicate the incident occurred at approximately 11:35 AM, amid a hearing on an unrelated matter, underscoring how quickly decorum can erode under the weight of unchecked ideology. The Bar Council of India swiftly suspended Kishore, citing the act as “inconsistent with the dignity of the profession,” but the implications run deeper. This incident is a symptom of a broader, systemic assault on the judiciary, particularly by right-wing elements when verdicts challenge their ideological preferences, and a clarion call to fortify our democratic bulwarks.
To dismiss this as an isolated lapse would be perilous naivety. India’s judiciary has long been a lightning rod for polarized attacks, especially from right-wing groups when rulings defy their expectations. The 2019 Ayodhya verdict, while favoring Hindu litigants, still drew vitriolic backlash from hardliners who deemed it insufficiently triumphant, with judges facing veiled threats and online vilification. More recently, decisions on issues like the hijab ban in schools or acquittals in communal violence cases have sparked waves of outrage when outcomes misalign with majoritarian agendas. Social media platforms, particularly X, amplify these attacks, with pro-BJP accounts leading coordinated trolling campaigns against justices, including former CJI DY Chandrachud, branding them as “anti-national” or “threats to democracy” for rulings deemed unfavorable. In CJI Gavai’s case, as only the second Dalit to hold the position, the shoe-throwing incident has been framed by some online voices as a “deserved” response to his remarks on Lord Vishnu, laced with casteist undertones that deepen the venom.
These attacks are not merely rhetorical; they are strategic efforts to intimidate the judiciary and erode its independence. The central government’s response—or lack thereof—exacerbates this crisis. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the shoe-throwing as a “reprehensible act” that “angered every Indian,” the broader ecosystem of social media rants and right-wing attacks on the judiciary often met with silence or inaction from the ruling establishment. Opposition leaders like Tejashwi Yadav have accused the BJP of normalizing hate and violence since 2014, pointing to a pattern where ideological allies face little accountability for targeting judicial figures. This selective reticence emboldens perpetrators, signaling that intimidation of the judiciary enjoys a degree of impunity. Such a climate chills judicial discourse, deters witnesses, and undermines public trust in the courts as neutral arbiters, threatening the very foundation of the judicial system.
The message is insidious: the judiciary, the last refuge for the marginalized and the check against executive overreach, is vulnerable. In a democracy teetering on the edge of majoritarianism, where dissent is often branded as sedition, such incidents signal to perpetrators that intimidation works. They foster fear among judges, who must navigate not just legal precedents but the treacherous waters of public outrage. As former CJI N.V. Ramana once warned, “The judiciary is the soul of the nation.” When that soul is assaulted, democracy itself gasps for air.
Why, then, is protecting the judiciary not just a procedural necessity, but the bedrock of saving democracy? India’s constitutional edifice rests on three pillars: the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. The first two, shaped by political processes, are susceptible to populist whims. The judiciary, insulated by lifetime appointments, contempt powers, and a mandate for independence, stands apart. It struck down the electoral bonds scheme in February 2024, exposing opaque political funding; it affirmed privacy as a fundamental right in 2017’s Aadhaar judgment; and it continues to navigate the Ram Mandir dispute’s aftermath with measured equity. Without this impartial sentinel, executive fiat could morph into authoritarian decree, and legislative majorities could trample minority rights unchecked. An attack on the Supreme Court is an attack on the nation’s sovereignty, as it weakens the institution that upholds the Constitution—the covenant that defines India’s democratic identity.
Yet, threats to judicial integrity are mounting. Beyond physical assaults like yesterday’s, subtler erosions—delayed collegium appointments, funding shortfalls, hobbling court infrastructure, and relentless online harassment—compound the siege. Hate-mongers, often cloaked in advocacy or activism, exploit these vulnerabilities to advance agendas that brook no opposition. In an era of rising communal tensions, where remarks on faith can ignite infernos, such acts risk polarizing the legal fraternity itself, fracturing it along ideological lines.
The path forward demands urgent, multifaceted action. First, bolster security protocols without compromising the open access that defines our courts. Dedicated judicial protection units, trained in de-escalation and rapid response, could prevent escalations like yesterday’s without turning temples of justice into fortresses. Second, enforce stricter accountability within the legal fraternity. The Bar Council’s suspension of Kishore is a start, but it must be the norm—coupled with mandatory ethics training emphasizing the judiciary’s sanctity over personal vendettas. Third, civic education campaigns should underscore the judiciary’s role as democracy’s guardian, countering misinformation that paints judges as elitist adversaries.
Legislators bear critical responsibility. Amending laws to expedite contempt proceedings and impose exemplary penalties for threats against judicial officers would deter copycats. The government must move beyond reactive statements to proactive measures, cracking down on social media platforms hosting coordinated attacks and ensuring ideological biases do not shield offenders. International best practices, from the U.S. Marshals Service’s judicial security model to the UK’s robust hate crime legislation, offer blueprints. Above all, civil society must rally behind the judiciary as a shared national asset, condemning such acts unequivocally, regardless of perpetrators’ affiliations.
As the sun sets on another turbulent day in India’s democratic journey, the shoe-throwing at CJI Gavai serves as a grim reminder of what is at stake. An attack on the Supreme Court is an attack on the nation, its people, and its sovereignty—a war on the very principles that hold the republic together. Democracy thrives not in the absence of conflict, but in the presence of institutions resilient enough to weather it. By shielding the judiciary from the slings and arrows of outrageous ideology, we do not merely protect robed figures on a bench—we preserve the flame of justice that illuminates the path for generations. Let yesterday’s outrage be the catalyst for tomorrow’s resolve. The apex court must remain unassailable, for in its safety lies the salvation of our republic.
Lawyer hurls shoe at India’s chief justice inside Supreme Court over remarks on Hindu god
A lawyer hurled a shoe at the Chief Justice of India during a Supreme Court hearing on Monday, in an unprecedented breach of courtroom security that provoked nationwide outrage.
Rakesh Kishore, 71, reportedly shouted slogans about “Sanatan Dharma”, a term often used to describe Hinduism, while throwing the shoe at Justice BR Gavai. The object fell near the bench, narrowly missing the chief justice and another judge.
The Independent has contacted the chief justice’s office for comment.
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Rakesh Kishore, 71, reportedly shouted slogans about “Sanatan Dharma”, a term often used to describe Hinduism, while throwing the shoe at Justice BR Gavai. The object fell near the bench, narrowly missing the chief justice and another judge.
The Independent has contacted the chief justice’s office for comment.
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Justice Gavai said he was unharmed. “I only heard the sound. Maybe it fell on some table or somewhere,” he told The Indian Express, adding that he heard the attacker proclaim he was aiming at the chief justice. “Perhaps what he threw landed somewhere else and he was trying to explain.”
He urged the lawyers present in the courtroom to “ignore it” and continue with the proceedings, the judge said, adding that he was “not distracted by all this”.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC the shoe brushed past the judges before landing behind them.
“After he was apprehended by the courtroom security, the Chief Justice told the lawyers to continue their arguments and not get distracted,” said advocate Ravi Shanker Jha, who was present.
Justice BR Gavai participates in Gandhi Jayanti celebrations at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Mauritius (Office of Chief Justice of India)
Mr Kishore was immediately restrained by security staff. He was questioned by the Delhi police but released after three hours, following directions from the Supreme court’s registrar general that the chief justice didn’t want charges filed against the lawyer.
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The registrar also directed the police to return Mr Kishore’s shoes and documents.
The police claimed that they found a handwritten note on Mr Kishore. “My message is for every follower of Sanatan Dharma,” it said in Hindi, “India will not tolerate an insult to Hinduism.”
He was also carrying multiple identification cards from the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Delhi Bar Council.
Speaking later to The Print, Mr Kishore said he did not regret his actions. “I did not do it; God did,” he said. “The Chief Justice of India mocked Sanatan Dharma. This was the Almighty’s order, a reaction to an action.”
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The lawyer claimed he had been disturbed since 16 September when Justice Gavai dismissed a plea concerning the replacement of a damaged statue of the Hindu god Vishnu and remarked that the petitioner should “go and ask the deity himself to do something”.
The remarks were widely circulated on social media and the judge was accused of being disrespectful to the Hindu faith. Justice Gavai later clarified his remarks had been misconstrued and that he “respects all religions”.
In the wake of the incident, the Supreme Court Bar Association suspended Mr Kishore, a registered member, from practice.
His behaviour was “utterly unbecoming of an officer of the court” and it “strikes at the very foundation of mutual respect that underpins the relationship between the Bench and the Bar,” the association said in a statement.
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“It constitutes a direct assault on judicial independence, violates Constitutional values of decorum and discipline, and gravely undermines public confidence in the justice delivery system.”
It also commended the “calm composure and exemplary restraint demonstrated” by the chief justice, “who, in the face of this grave provocation, continued to discharge his judicial duties with dignity and poise, upholding the highest traditions of the judiciary”.
The prime minister described the attack as “utterly condemnable” and said he had spoken to Justice Gavai.
“There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society,” Narendra Modi said, adding that the assault had “angered every Indian”.
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Solicitor General Tushar Mehta attributed the act to “misinformation on social media”.
“It is really heartening that the Chief Justice reacted with magnanimity and majesty. I only hope that this magnanimity is not treated as weakness,” he said.
Opposition leaders also denounced the attack.
Sonia Gandhi of the Congress party said it was “an assault not just on him, but on our constitution as well”, while the Communist Party of India Marxist and the Communist Party of India described it as “a direct assault on the dignity of the judiciary”.
Communist Party of India general secretary D Raja called the incident an attempt to “impose the right-wing’s code of conduct instead of the Constitution of India”, noting that “even the CJI, a Dalit judge, is openly targeted”.
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Justice Gavai is due to retire next month and remains under a high-security cover of the Delhi police.
Seeking a “detailed investigation”, senior advocate Indira Jaising labelled the incident 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,” she said on X while praising the judge for going about his “judicial work with no visible disturbance”.
Violence & Sanatan Dharma: Now suspended lawyer defends shoe attack on CJI Gavai, claims it was a protest against ‘bulldozer’ remark”
On the morning of October 6, 2025, the Supreme Court – long seen as the sanctum of Indian justice – was jolted by an act of aggression against the Chief Justice of India (CJI), BR Gavai, also the second Dalit Buddhist to occupy this constitutional position. Advocate Prashant Rakesh Kishore, aged 71, enrolled in the Bar Council of Delhi in 2009, engineered this attack in full open court as the CJI sat with his brother judge, Justice Vinod Chandran. Present in the Court No. 1, he attempted to thro…
A courtroom disrupted
The usual morning mention round in Supreme Court’s Court No. 1 turned chaotic within minutes. At around 11:35 a.m., an advocate in full courtroom attire stood, removed a shoe (or attempted to unroll a bundle), and sought to throw it toward the bench. The act was accompanied by a sharp slogan that “Sanatan Dharam ka Apmaan Nahi Sahega Hindustan.”
Lawyers present have recalled that the object barely reached the dais — security moved swiftly. The man was escorted out, the session halted briefly, and then resumed. Chief Justice Gavai, visibly composed, turned to the next advocate and said “Don’t get distracted. We are not distracted by this.” With that, the Court proceeded as though unshaken.
The man in the robe: Rakesh Kishore
The person behind the outburst was soon identified: Advocate Rakesh Kishore, aged 71, enrolled in the Bar Council of Delhi in 2009. He held multiple bar cards — including the Supreme Court Bar Association, Shahdara Bar Association, and BCD, as reported
According to the Indian Express, Kishore resides in Mayur Vihar Phase 1, Delhi, and over the years has been associated with disputes relating to his housing society. Residents say elections in his society have not been held in recent times; complaints against him include one over an alleged assault of a senior citizen in 2021. The Delhi Police that functions under the direct control of India’s dreaded Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) –and is known for its aggressive surveillance of ordinary citizens was surprisingly charitable with the offender. Charging protesting citizens with a draconian law, the UAPA, in this instance, the same force has chosen to go soft. Citing the “reason” that the SC Registry was not pressing charges, they released Kishore within hours, maintaining he had no prior criminal record. Since then, the offender has been widely interviewed by a government-friendly media.
“More offended by rule of law than religion?” Suspended advocate reacts to CJI’s Mauritius remark
Speculation was rife on the “motive” with media quick to attribute the contemptuous aggression at CJI Gavai’s reported remark to a petitioner who had prayed for “replacing” the deity of Vishnu at Khajurao, a UNESCO world site and under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The CJI had later clarified his remarks in the Khajuraho case, emphasising respect for all religions and saying social media misinterpretations had amplified the controversy.
However, suspended advocate Rakesh Kishore, after being released by Delhi Police, has expressed discontent—not over any religious sentiment, but in response to a public statement made by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) during a visit abroad.
In a statement to news agency ANI, he said he was deeply hurt by what he perceived as mockery from the judiciary—especially comments by the CJI in a case involving a damaged Vishnu idol at Khajuraho. He asserted he felt “no regret” and claimed his act was a reaction to what he viewed as contempt directed at believers of Sanatan Dharma.
Referring to the CJI’s remarks in Mauritius — “The Indian legal system is governed by the rule of law, not the rule of bulldozers” — Kishore responded, stating, “…The CJI should consider that, holding such a high constitutional position, he ought to understand the significance of ‘Milord’ and maintain its dignity… You go to Mauritius and say that the country will not run with a bulldozer. I ask the CJI and those opposing me: Is the bulldozer action by Yogi ji against those who encroached on government property wrong? I am hurt and will continue to be so…”
Further, Kishore invoked “divine guidance,” saying that he could not rest after what he believed was an insult. He reiterated that he was neither drunk nor under influence, but acting from emotional distress. His reaction appears rooted more in political alignment and perceived personal affront than in any specific legal principle or religious issue.
#WATCH | Delhi: Countered on his action against the highest position holder in judiciary, suspended Advocate Rakesh Kishore, who attempted to hurl an object at CJI BR Gavai, says, “…CJI should think that when he is sitting on such a high constitutional post, he should… pic.twitter.com/6WgPZmQjO7 — ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2025
The Trigger: a temple idol, a viral remark, and Mauritius speech on ‘Bulldozer Justice’
The roots of Rakesh Kishore’s outburst appear to lie in entrenched casteist hatred and perceived ideological insult. In September 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed a public interest petition seeking the reconstruction of a damaged Lord Vishnu idol at the Javari Temple in Khajuraho. When the bench — led by CJI B.R. Gavai — rejected the plea, the Chief Justice remarked, “Go and ask the deity itself to do something.”
While intended to highlight the Court’s view that the matter fell under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the comment sparked a firestorm online. It was widely seen — and misrepresented — as flippant and disrespectful to religious sentiments. Social media amplified the controversy, framing it as an affront to Sanatan Dharma, giving rise to a charged narrative of judicial insensitivity.
Further CJI Gavai’s recent speech in Mauritius, where he invoked his 2024 ruling on illegal demolitions, reminding the world that the highest court in the land stands against injustice. In that judgment, the Court had clearly held that the executive cannot act as judge, jury, and executioner.
SC Judgment A Clear Message That India Governed By Rule Of Law & Not Rule Of Bulldozer : CJI BR Gavai In Mauritius#SupremeCourt #CJIBRGavai https://t.co/vxQzhxm2ir — Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) October 3, 2025
Citing this principle abroad, the CJI said, “The Indian legal system is governed by the Rule of Law, not by the rule of the bulldozer.” Though meant to reaffirm constitutional values, this statement became another flashpoint. Critics like Kishore interpreted it as an indirect attack on certain state-level actions — particularly in Uttar Pradesh. Amid these twin provocations, Kishore claimed he acted out of emotional distress and divine compulsion, viewing both statements as cumulative insults to his faith and belief system.
There is a further twist to the tale. During the Dussehra vacation of the Supreme Court Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh (a state that has been one of the prime offenders in aggressive demolitions of minority properties and places of worship) saw a series of demolitions, including the ancestral home of Olympic Gold Medallist and Padma Shri Mohd. Shahid demolished in Varanasi Road widening drive, end September.
Online Hate Build-Up against CJI Gavai
The attack on CJI Gavai and his august office as also his identity did not happen in isolation. Weeks before far right platforms were airing interviews instigating violence against India’s first Buddhist Chief Justice. Right wing “influencer”, Ajeet bharti with Kaushlesh Rai and Editor of Opindia (another instigator rightwing digital platform), Anupam Singh can be heard inciting people to violence against the CJI. During the conversation, Kaushlesh says, “I’m a Gandhian. I don’t support violence. If I did, I would have said, ‘Look, if Gavai ji gets into a fight, he lives in the courthouse, and there are Hindu lawyers there. At least one Hindu lawyer should grab Gavai ji’s head and hit him hard against the wall, so that it breaks into two pieces. But I don’t support violence at all.’ During the conversation, Ajit Bharti had also suggested surrounding Justice Gavai’s car. Kaushlesh Rai goes on to say, “Oct 2nd is coming, what Godse did is beyond your capability, but you can become Gandhi. What is the max punishment for spitting in Gavai’s face under the IPC? Not more than Six months? It’s nothing more than that. Hindus can’t even do this?”
Bar Council of India suspends lawyer
Within hours of the shocking display of hate and contempt, the Bar Council of India (BCI) issued an interim suspension of Kishore’s license to practice. The BCI’s order — under the Advocates Act, 1961 — called his conduct “prima facie inconsistent with the dignity of the Court.”
#BREAKING| BCI suspends practice of Advocate Rakesh Kishore, who attempted to attack CJI BR Gavai today The Council has also initiated disciplinary proceedings against Kishore #SupremeCourt #cjibrgavai pic.twitter.com/Pv4lvPYTaV — Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) October 6, 2025
According to order, he has been barred from appearing, pleading, acting or practising in any court or tribunal across India. Courts, tribunals and bar associations were to be informed. A show-cause notice was issued, requiring Kishore to explain in 15 days why the suspension should not continue.
Courts and its pesky choices
To date, the Supreme Court Registrar General opted not to initiate criminal proceedings. The Delhi Police, after questioning Kishore for a few hours, released him, citing lack of a case file from the Court, as per reports
The Court itself stayed silent in public. It neither issued a press release nor filed an FIR. Some legal observers interpreted this as a strategic restraint—refusing to magnify the act by escalating it. Yet many felt a full judicial revulsion or contempt action would have better affirmed the Apex Court’s institutional strength.
Legal fraternity condemnation
Leading bar bodies and senior advocates were quick to speak out. The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) called the act “unbecoming” of a lawyer and urged suo moto contempt proceedings. They argued the gesture threatened to “scandalise the office of the CJI” and damage public faith in the court.
Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) passes resolution condemning the “unwarranted and intemperate gesture” of an advocate who allegedly disrespected the Chief Justice of India and companion judges, calling it an assault on judicial independence.#SupremeCourt pic.twitter.com/0PWFOq1lCl — Bar and Bench (@barandbench) October 6, 2025
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) condemned the act in strong terms, stressing institutional dignity, decorum and constitutional duty.
It was senior counsel, Kapil Sibal’s tweet on X at around 5 p.m. yesterday, October 6 that pushed the moral bar high, commenting on the absence of any condemnation from either the Prime Minister, Home Minister or Law Minister.
CJI The uncivilised behaviour of a member of the Supreme Court Bar must be publicly condemned by one and all since it is affront to the majesty of the court The silence of the PM , the Home Minister and the Law Minister is to say the least surprising — Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) October 6, 2025
Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has unanimously condemned the “reprehensible act” by an advocate inside the courtroom of CJI Justice B.R. Gavai on Oct 6. Calling the conduct “utterly unbecoming of an officer of the court,” the SCBA said it strikes at the foundation of mutual… pic.twitter.com/VHcF3RNovh — Bar and Bench (@barandbench) October 6, 2025
Senior advocate Indira Jaising went further, labelling the act “ideological and casteist” and calling upon the Attorney General to initiate contempt of court action. She urged the Supreme Court judges to issue a united statement rejecting ideological attacks on secular courts.
Attorney General should take action for contempt of court for an ideological castest attack on a secular court https://t.co/Fk4XrWTGOX — Indira Jaising (@IJaising) October 6, 2025
The Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, offered a more tempered take. He condemned the act as a product of misinformation and social media frenzy, praised the CJI’s composure, and warned that his restraint must not be mistaken for institutional weakness.
Attack on the CJI is an assault on the dignity of our judiciary and the spirit of our Constitution: Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, took to X to lambast the attack, “The attack on the Chief Justice of India is an assault on the dignity of our judiciary and the spirit of our Constitution.”
The attack on the Chief Justice of India is an assault on the dignity of our judiciary and the spirit of our Constitution. Such hatred has no place in our nation and must be condemned. — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 6, 2025
Congress directed criticism at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that for hours the PM’s office remained silent. In a post, Congress taunted the PM: “Your silence is deafening — it screams complicity.”
“India’s Chief Justice B.R. Gavai was brazenly attacked in the Supreme Court today. Yet, not one word of condemnation from the Prime Minister so far. Mr. Modi, your silence is deafening and screams of complicity. You must speak up.”
India’s Chief Justice B.R. Gavai was brazenly attacked in the Supreme Court today. Yet, not one word of condemnation from the Prime Minister so far. Mr. Modi, your silence is deafening and screams of complicity. You must speak up. pic.twitter.com/vodFnPjMye — Congress (@INCIndia) October 6, 2025
Sonia Gandhi, former party president, expressed “profound distress,” calling the act an “assault not just on the CJI, but on the Constitution.”
“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
Statement of CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji 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… pic.twitter.com/3FgEk2q5gV — Congress (@INCIndia) October 6, 2025
There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society, utterly condemnable: PM Modi
Pressure mounted. Late evening on October 6, PM Modi posted a condemnation. He wrote, “Spoke to CJI BR Gavai. The act is utterly condemnable. Such reprehensible behaviour has no place in a civilised society.” He hailed the CJI’s composure as a testament to judicial dignity.
Despite this, critics noted that the PM’s response came only after public pressure escalated. The delay was spun as political hesitation.
“I appreciated the calm displayed by Justice Gavai in the face of such a situation. It highlights his commitment to values of justice and strengthening the spirit of our Constitution” PM Modi said
Spoke to Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai Ji. The attack on him earlier today in the Supreme Court premises has angered every Indian. There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society. It is utterly condemnable. I appreciated the calm displayed by Justice… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 6, 2025
Underlying currents: caste, religion & polarisation
The act was not merely a shocking security breach — it looked like a violent manifestation of ideological, religious and caste bias.
CJI Gavai is a practising Buddhist from the Dalit community, and some spokespeople observed that targeting him via religious slogans—Sanatan Dharma—had distinct caste overtones. The fact that a lawyer in the name of religious pride attempted assault on a Dalit judge stirred discomfort.
In legal circles, there is now renewed urgency around access control as how did a man with a proximity card enter the courtroom and bring an item?
The attacker was in full uniform , wearing a proximity card and was carrying a bag as well along with a rolled up bundle of some papers. He apologized to J. Chandran saying that “it” was only for J. Gavai. — Anas Tanwir (@Vakeel_Sb) October 6, 2025
The unflinching bench: how the chief justice responded
What has drawn admiration across the board is CJI Gavai’s restraint during the moment. As chaos briefly erupted, he paused, remained still, and directed his courtroom not to be distracted. That calmness — amid a surprise attack — was lauded inside and outside legal circles.
Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde, commenting on an unusual incident, praised the CJI Gavai for maintaining a calm and composed demeanour throughout. He noted that such odd events are not unprecedented in the Indian judiciary. Recalling a similar episode from the past, he mentioned that CJI Hidayatullah, who was also from Nagpur, once had a shoe thrown at him by a disgruntled litigant.
Displaying remarkable composure and wit, Justice Hidayatullah reportedly said, “The man has lost his case, he should not lose his shoe as well.”
Full marks to the calm and composed demeanour with which the CJI continued the proceedings. Such odd events have happened before as well. CJI Hidayatullah, also from Nagpur had a shoe thrown by a disgruntled litigant. He ordered the shoe to be returned saying, “The man has lost… https://t.co/9XXfBjOwDV — SANJAY HEGDE (@sanjayuvacha) October 6, 2025
Inside the court, no visible disruption followed the incident. The CJI continued hearing cases scheduled for the day, according to sources. His poise came to symbolise institutional durability in the face of provocation.
What comes next — contempt proceedings? Will the court act?
Legal bodies like SCAORA and senior advocates have urged the Supreme Court to take suo moto contempt notice, emphasising that any attempt to assault or scandalise the highest seat of justice cannot go unchecked.
While the CJI displayed remarkable composure, the judiciary now faces a crucial moment, whether to continue exercising restraint or to respond firmly to uphold its institutional authority.
Beyond contempt proceedings, the Court should consider imposing some penalty, and setting a clear precedent against courtroom misconduct—especially when it’s cloaked in ideological justification. Such steps would necessary for public trust, protect judicial dignity, and send a strong message that the sanctity of the courtroom is inviolable. The need for a unified condemnation of the incident by the whole of the Supreme Court is also the need of the hour.
The nation now watches: will the Supreme Court let the moment pass — or rise to define it?
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