The All India Lawyers Union (AILU) staged a protest outside the Supreme Court premises in Delhi on Tuesday, October 7, condemning the attempt by lawyer Rakesh Kishore to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai. The union called the act an attack on the Constitution and the judiciary, demanding immediate FIR registration and contempt proceedings against the accused.
Advocate Sunil Kumar, representing the protestors, termed the incident “highly condemnable” and said, “An attack against the Chief Justice is an attack against the Constitution and the judicial system. We are extending our support to the CJI and the Constitution and will protest against this atrocious act.”
Despite the uproar, CJI Gavai declined to take action against the accused, which advocates described as a gesture of humility. However, AILU members insisted that such conduct must have strict legal consequences, including a lifetime ban on legal practice and a contempt of court charge to set a precedent.
Earlier, Rakesh Kishore, the lawyer involved in the incident, told ANI that he had “no regrets”, claiming he was “hurt by the CJI’s remarks” in the Khajuraho temple PIL case. Kishore alleged that CJI Gavai’s comments were disrespectful towards Sanatan Dharma matters, which prompted his reaction.
His statements have drawn widespread criticism from legal circles. Supreme Court Bar Association President Vikas Singh condemned the act and urged the media not to amplify Kishore’s comments, calling it a “publicity stunt.” He also stressed that social media had “escalated things out of proportion” by misrepresenting the CJI’s remarks.
The incident marks one of the rarest acts of contempt within Supreme Court premises and has sparked a broader conversation on the growing intolerance and misconduct within sections of the legal community.