CJI B.R. Gavai said he and his brother judge were shocked by Monday’s courtroom attack but stressed, “It’s a forgotten chapter, we have moved on.” The incident has sparked debate on contempt and judicial dignity.
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai recently spoke about the shocking incident that took place inside the Supreme Court earlier this week, when a lawyer allegedly tried to assault him. The CJI, while addressing the matter, said,
“My learned brother and I were very shocked by what happened on Monday. But for us, it’s a forgotten chapter we have moved on.”
During the court proceedings, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan also recalled a similar situation in another country’s court.
He told the bench,
“I had written an article about a similar incident that happened ten years ago in a neighbouring court. The judges there had taken a different view on how contempt powers should be exercised in such cases.”
Justice Bhuyyan, who was also present on the bench, gave a strong reaction. He said,
“I have my own views on this he is the CJI, it’s not a matter of joke. I’m not apologetic about my reaction. It’s an attack on the institution itself. As judges, we often do things others may not find justifiable, but that doesn’t make us doubt our actions.”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also condemned the act, while praising the CJI’s calm response.
He stated,
“What happened was unpardonable, but it was My Lords dignity and magnanimity that turned it into a moment of grace.”
Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has also strongly condemned the recent incident in which a lawyer tried to throw a shoe at the Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, calling it a serious insult to the judicial institution that must never be forgotten.
During the hearing today, CJI Gavai recalled that Justice Vinod Chandran, who was sitting beside him, was equally shocked when Advocate Rakesh Kishore attempted to hurl a shoe towards the Bench on October 6.
“It’s very sad that this has happened,”
said Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, addressing the Bench.
“We have forgotten about it,”
said CJI Gavai, in a lighter tone.
However, Justice Bhuyan disagreed with CJI Gavai’s approach of moving on from the incident.
He said,
“I have my own views on this, it should never be forgotten…It’s the CJI. It’s not a matter of joke. He’s (the lawyer who attempted the attack) not apologetic thereafter. It’s an affront on the institution.”
Solicitor General of India (SG) Tushar Mehta also expressed his agreement with Justice Bhuyan, stating,
“(It is) unpardonable. It was your lordship’s majesty and magnanimity (to move past it), but what happened was completely unpardonable.”
The lawyer at the centre of this controversy, Advocate Kishore, has had his lawyer’s licence suspended and is also facing a criminal case registered in Bengaluru.
Immediately after attempting to throw the shoe and while being escorted out of the courtroom by security, Kishore was heard saying,
“Mera sandesh har Sanatani ke liye hai…Sanatan dharma ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan.”
[India will not tolerate insults to Sanatan Dharma]. He was arrested but released a few hours later after the Supreme Court formally conveyed that it did not wish to press charges.
The shoe-throwing incident was discussed today while the Bench of CJI Gavai, Justice Bhuyan, and Justice Chandran was hearing petitions seeking a review of its judgment in Vanashakti v. Union of India, which had restrained the Central government from granting retrospective environmental clearances.
Earlier during the hearing, the Bench also commented on the way lawyers sometimes quote caselaws without context.
Remarked CJI Gavai,
“We have developed a habit of not relying on lawyers in the Supreme Court. Lines are read out of context, paragraphs are read out of context,”
Background
The incident happened on Monday, when the Chief Justice was presiding over a session for case mentions. A lawyer suddenly approached the dais and reportedly tried to take off his shoe to throw it at the judge.
However, security staff immediately stepped in and removed him from the courtroom before any harm was done.
As the lawyer was being escorted out, he shouted,
“Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge.”
Despite the disturbance, CJI Gavai urged the court to maintain focus and continue with the scheduled hearings. He reassured everyone present by saying,
“Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me.”
Sources have indicated that the attempted attack may have been linked to a recent order delivered by the Chief Justice in a sensitive temple matter. The case was about the restoration of a damaged 7-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.
The Supreme Court bench, led by CJI Gavai, had dismissed a plea seeking to replace the broken idol.
The petitioner, Rakesh Dalal, argued that repairing or replacing the decapitated idol—believed to have been damaged during the Mughal invasions—was necessary for reviving the temple’s sanctity and allowing worship to resume properly.
The Javari temple, built between 1050 and 1075 AD by the Chandela rulers, is part of the world-famous Khajuraho group of temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its unique architecture.
Many devotees have long claimed that worship has not been the same due to the absence of a complete idol in the sanctum.
However, the bench dismissed the plea strongly. CJI Gavai, addressing petitioner Rakesh Dalal in open court, remarked,
“This is purely publicity interest litigation, Go and ask the deity itself to do something now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. So go and pray now.”
These remarks were taken by some as sarcasm, but they quickly spread beyond the courtroom. Supporters of the petition expressed anger, saying the comments had hurt their religious sentiments. Soon after, social media saw trending posts calling for action, including demands to
“Impeach the CJI.”
The entire episode has once again highlighted the delicate balance between faith and law in India. On one side stands the constitutional duty of the courts to protect secular principles and dismiss publicity-driven cases.
On the other, there is the deep emotional and religious sentiment of devotees who feel justice must also respect their beliefs.
The shoe incident inside the Supreme Court has therefore become more than just a matter of courtroom security.
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