Shoe-Throwing Row
Plea seeks criminal contempt case against lawyer who threw shoe at CJI Gavai
This story was originally published at 12:14 IST on 8 October 2025
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NEW DELHI – A lawyer Subhash Chandran K.R. has sought Attorney General for India R. Venkataramani's consent for initiating a criminal contempt proceeding against Rakesh Kishore, the 71-year-old advocate, who threw a shoe at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai during proceedings in the Supreme Court on Monday. Advocate Subhash Chandran K.R. has sought the consent of Venkataramani under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
Kishore's conduct of throwing a shoe and shouting slogans against Chief Justice Gavai amounted to gross interference with the administration of justice and undermines the dignity of the Supreme Court, said Subhash Chandran K.R., a practising advocate in the Supreme Court. Even after the incident, Kishore made contemptuous remarks against Chief Justice Gavai in media interactions, expressing no remorse and instead justifying his actions, he said. Such behaviour reflects a deliberate attempt to scandalise the court and erode public confidence in the judiciary, he added.
Rakesh Kishore on Monday threw a shoe at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai during proceedings in the Supreme Court. Kishore was unhappy with Chief Justice Gavai's remark during a recent hearing on a plea seeking restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol at the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.
In September, while dismissing a plea seeking the reconstruction of a dilapidated seven-feet tall idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari Temple in Khajuraho Temple complex, Chief Justice Gavai had said, "This is purely publicity interest litigation...Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation." His comments had led to huge uproar on social media, with people accusing him of hurting religious sentiment. Thereafter, Chief Justice Gavai said he "respects all religions" and clarified that his comments were made in the context that the Archaeological Survey of India has jurisdiction over its upkeep. "I believe in all the religions, I respect all the (religions)," he had said.
As Kishore was being taken away by the apex court's security, the lawyer was heard shouting, "Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge (We will not tolerate any insult to Sanatan)." He is currently being investigated by the Delhi police. Chief Justice Gavai continued with the day's proceedings, saying, "I am the last person to be affected by such things".
Consequently, the Bar Council of Delhi suspended Kishore and termed his conduct unbecoming. However, Kishore was let off by the Delhi police as the Supreme Court's Registrar General declined to pursue further legal action. End
Reported by Surya Tripathi
Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury
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