Explore the shocking history of courtroom attacks in India, from the 1968 knife attack on ex-CJI Mohammad Hidayatullah to the recent shoe assault on CJI B.R. Gavai, highlighting risks faced by the judiciary and breaches of court decorum.
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NEW DELHI: On 6th October 2025, the Indian judiciary witnessed an unexpected move when a 71-year-old lawyer, Rakesh Kishore, attempted to throw a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai during Supreme Court proceedings. While violence inside a courtroom is never justifiable, the incident has sparked wider debate about judicial conduct, courtroom decorum, and the boundaries of commentary by judges.
What Happened
The attack was reportedly triggered by an oral remark from CJI Gavai during a petition concerning the restoration of a Bhagwan Vishnu idol in Madhya Pradesh. The Chief Justice had told the petitioner:
“Go and ask the deity itself to do something. Go and pray.”
Kishore, allegedly angered by what he considered a mockery of Hindu beliefs, attempted the attack but was quickly restrained by court security. The Chief Justice remained calm and instructed lawyers to continue proceedings without distraction.
From Kishore’s possession, authorities recovered a note reading:
“Sanatan Dharma ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan”
(India will not tolerate insults to Sanatan Dharma).
Subsequently, the Bar Council of India (BCI) suspended Kishore’s license, and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) revoked his temporary membership, citing gross misconduct and breach of professional ethics.
The Motivation
Kishore later explained that his actions were in protest against remarks made by Justice Gavai during a court hearing related to the reconstruction of a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu in Madhya Pradesh. Dismissing the petition, the Chief Justice reportedly said,
“This is purely publicity interest litigation… Go and ask the deity himself to do something.”
Kishore claimed that these remarks mocked Hindu beliefs and provoked him deeply, stating,
“I did not do it; God did. The Chief Justice mocked Sanatan Dharma. This was the Almighty’s order.”
He further asserted that he had been unable to sleep since the original remarks were made and declared his willingness to repeat such an act if “God calls” him again.
Reactions
The incident triggered immediate and widespread condemnation from political leaders, legal luminaries, and bar associations:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the attack “utterly condemnable” and praised the CJI for his composure. He emphasized that
“there is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society.”
Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader, described it as
“an assault on the dignity of our judiciary and the spirit of our Constitution.”
Mukul Rohatgi, former Attorney-General of India, stressed that the courtroom is not a space for religious or political expression, calling the act “the grossest form of criminal contempt.”
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, senior advocate and Congress MP, labeled the act as “an attack on the institution itself,” particularly egregious because it came from a practicing lawyer.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) swiftly suspended Kishore’s license to practice law pending further disciplinary action, and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) revoked his temporary membership, describing his behavior as “reprehensible, disorderly, and intemperate.”
Judicial Conduct Under Scrutiny
While the violence itself drew condemnation, some senior legal voices have also weighed in on CJI Gavai’s courtroom remark. Former Supreme Court Judge Markandey Katju highlighted on X that judges must focus on legal matters rather than moral commentary. Katju emphasized that such remarks are:
“Totally unwarranted, inappropriate, and unnecessary.”
He illustrated the potential risks, asking:
“What would happen if a judge hearing a petition regarding the demolition of a mosque said ‘Let Allah or Prophet Mohammed restore it?’”
In an accompanying op-ed, Katju cited Francis Bacon, noting that:
“A much talking judge is like an ill-tuned cymbal.”
He explained that judges’ verbosity or offhand commentary, particularly on religious matters, can inflame public sentiment and inadvertently affect perceptions of judicial neutrality. Katju contrasted this with his experience in the British High Court, describing it as a space of “serenity, calm, and tranquillity,” where judges speak sparingly and allow lawyers to present their cases.
He also cautioned that such remarks by judges, though often unintended, could set a precedent that influences lower courts and public opinion, thereby impacting the dignity of the judiciary.
Social Media Backlash and Legal Action
The incident has also spilled over into the digital sphere. Punjab Police reported registering several FIRs across multiple districts in response to complaints about offensive social media posts allegedly targeting the Chief Justice. Over 100 accounts were identified for sharing hateful and inflammatory content, which is now under investigation.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru Police filed a Zero FIR against suspended advocate Rakesh Kishore under Sections 132 and 133 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), based on a complaint from the All India Advocates’ Association. The FIR notes:
“On October 6, one advocate Mr. Rakesh Kishore, has committed an offence by throwing a shoe to the dias in Court Hall No 1 at the Supreme Court of India… The complainant requests to register case against the accused to protect image of judiciary, etc.”
A Zero FIR allows the case to be transferred to the jurisdiction where the alleged offense occurred, ensuring swift legal action regardless of territorial limits.
Past Instances of Judges Facing Physical Attacks
Physical attacks on Supreme Court judges have been exceedingly rare.
In 1968, a man leapt onto the bench of Justices Mohammad Hidayatullah, C.A. Vaidialingam, and A.N. Grover with a flick-knife, injuring Justice Grover before being subdued, an incident later described in Justice Hidayatullah’s autobiography My Own Boswell. In 2009, a woman hurled a slipper at Justice Arijit Pasayat during a contempt hearing, though it missed its mark.
On March 13, 1968, then-Chief Justice M. Hidayatullah and a three-judge bench were attacked by Manmohan Das during a civil appeal hearing. The assailant first threw a knife, which missed, and then directly attacked Justice Grover, causing serious head injuries. CJI Hidayatullah, despite suffering a knee injury, confronted the attacker with an inkpot and helped subdue him until police arrived.
Das later admitted he had initially planned to attack a minister but chose the Supreme Court due to its open doors and tight security.
Justices Mohammad Hidayatullah:
Hon’ble Mr. Mohammad Hidayatullah (b. December 17, 1905) was a distinguished jurist and scholar. Educated at Morris College, Nagpur, and Trinity College, Cambridge, he was a Malak Gold Medalist and later became a Barrister-at-Law at Lincoln’s Inn. He began his career as an advocate at the Nagpur High Court (1930–46), also serving as lecturer, Government Pleader, and Advocate-General of the Central Provinces & Berar.
He rose through the judiciary as Puisne Judge and Chief Justice of Nagpur High Court, then Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court, before being appointed to the Supreme Court in 1958.
He became Chief Justice of India on February 25, 1968, retiring on December 16, 1970. Beyond the bench, he was actively involved in academic councils, university courts, and civic duties, including leadership roles in the Bharat Scouts and Guides, earning the prestigious Silver Elephant award.
In 2009, a moment of chaos unfolded in the Supreme Court when a woman suddenly hurled her slipper at Justice Arijit Pasayat during a contempt hearing. The judge quickly bent, and the slipper missed its mark. Security personnel moved in immediately, and the woman was taken into custody.
Instances of hostility toward judges, though rare in higher courts, have shown a worrying rise across the judiciary.
- September 2025: A civil judge in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, received a ₹500 crore ransom note threatening his life. The letter, sent via Speed Post from Prayagraj, was allegedly sent by a 74-year-old retired schoolteacher attempting to frame a relative.
- April 2025: In Delhi, a retired government schoolteacher and his lawyer verbally abused and threatened Judicial Magistrate Shivangi Mangla after his conviction in a cheque-bounce case, warning her not to “return home alive.”
- December 2024: A 22-year-old murder suspect, Kiran Santosh Bharam, threw a slipper at Judge R.G. Waghmare during a hearing at Kalyan Sessions Court in Thane, Maharashtra. The slipper missed the judge and landed near the bench clerk.
- January 2024: At the District Sessions Court in Agar Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, lawyer Nitin Atal allegedly threw his shoe at Additional Sessions Judge Pradeep Dubey during a heated argument, injuring the judge’s ear. Atal also snatched court documents before fleeing the courtroom.
- July 2022: Additional Sessions Judge Uttam Anand was killed when an autorickshaw deliberately rammed into him on a deserted road in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. The accused were later sentenced to death.
- October 2015: A Delhi magistrate filed a complaint against a lawyer who allegedly used sexually explicit and abusive language during a hearing in a drunk-driving case.
- March 2009: A litigant hurled a slipper at then–Supreme Court judge Arijit Pasayat, joined by others who shouted abuses at the bench.
While direct attacks on Supreme Court judges remain uncommon, the growing number of physical and verbal assaults on district and trial court judges underscores a deepening threat to judicial independence and safety.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on CJI B.R. Gavai