Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Thursday broke his silence on the attempted shoe attack inside the Supreme Court earlier this week, calling it a “forgotten chapter” and urging to focus on court’s work instead of the controversy.
“My learned brother and I were very shocked with what happened on Monday... for us it is a forgotten chapter,” the Chief Justice said in front of an open court, alongside Justice Ujjal Bhuyan.
“I have my own views on this,” Justice Bhuyan said. “He is the Chief Justice of India — it’s not a matter of joke. As judges over the years, we will do a lot of things which others may not think are justifiable, but that does not change our opinion about what we did.”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also condemned the act, calling it “unpardonable.” He then lauded that CJI’s “majesty and magnanimity” in treating the incident as closed was “commendable.”
What actually happened on Monday in the Supreme Court?
Notably, on Monday morning, as the CJI began hearing the first case of the day in Court No. 1, Witnesses said that a lawyer, later identified as Rakesh Kishore, suddenly hurled his shoe toward the bench while shouting, “Sanatan ka apmaan nahi saheng [We will not tolerate insults to Sanatan Dharma.]”
Security personnel immediately restrained Kishore and removed him from the courtroom.
However, the Chief Justice remained calm, reportedly saying, “I am the last person to be affected by such things,” per the Deccan Herald. “Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me.”
The Supreme Court did not file a complaint against Kishore, with the Chief Justice reportedly instructing the registry not to pursue punitive action. Still, Delhi Police questioned the lawyer for several hours before releasing him. His shoes were later returned.
Within hours, the Bar Council of India (BCI) suspended Kishore’s license, describing his behaviour as “inconsistent with the dignity of the court.”
“Spoke to Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai Ji. The attack on him earlier today in the Supreme Court premises has angered every Indian. There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society. It is utterly condemnable,” the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X (formerly Twitter).
