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Informist, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025

 

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Thursday agreed to hear after Diwali vacations a criminal contempt case 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 last week. This was after Attorney General of India R. Venkataramani gave consent for starting criminal contempt proceedings against Kishore. 

 

A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked whether the issue should be raked up further after Chief Justice Gavai himself had let off the incident. "Honorable CJI has been magnanimous...That shows the institution is not affected by these kinds of incidents," the bench said. If the issue is raised again, it would give a further opportunity to "publicity seekers", it said. It also expressed concern about the court's time being diverted from other priority matters. "The moment you take any action now it will become episode No. 2," the bench said.

 

On Oct. 8, lawyer Subhash Chandran K.R. had sought the Attorney General's consent to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against Kishore 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 undermined 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 reflected a deliberate attempt to scandalise the court and erode public confidence in the judiciary, he said.

 

Last week, Rakesh Kishore threw a shoe at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai during proceedings in the Supreme Court. Kishore was unhappy with Gavai's remark during a recent hearing on a plea seeking restoration of an idol of Lord Vishnu 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 Javari Temple in the Khajuraho Temple complex, 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, 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)." 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 Avishek Dutta

 

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