The Supreme Court bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi stated that the right to speech and expression cannot be exercised at the cost of someone else's dignity and integrity, while referring to the recent circulation of the shoe-hurling incident on social media.
The bench highlighted the recent incident of shoe hurling towards Chief Justice of India B R Gavai as nothing but "money-spinning ventures."
These remarks were made when Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate Vikas Singh, the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, sought urgent listing of a plea for contempt action against 71-year-old advocate Rakesh Kishore, accused of the shoe hurling, per PTI report.
"We are not against freedom of speech and expression, but this right cannot be exercised at the cost of the integrity and dignity of others," the bench said, when advocate Singh pointed out that Kishore has expressed no remorse and was giving interviews, PTI report included.
Advocate Singh has argued that Rakesh Kishore's interview after the incident has been circulating on social media platforms uncontrollably and urged the Court to issue an order to restrain social media from airing such content. He said, "I am seeking an order on the line of John Doe order."
What is a John Doe order:
A John Doe order is an order passed by a Court against the world at large. A John Doe order is a type of legal order that allows a person or entity to take legal action against an unknown party or parties, according to Live Law
A John Doe order is usually issued when the individual involved in the illegal activity is unknown during the time of legal proceedings, commonly issued in cases involving anonymous internet users.
Advocate Rakesh Kishore, on October 6, entered the courtroom, bypassing security and hurled a show towards CJI, resulting in the suspension of his license. While the CJI let the anguished advocate out of the courtroom with a warning.