Lawyer hurls shoe at Chief Justice of India inside Supreme Court
New Delhi: In an unprecedented act that disrupted proceedings in India’s Supreme Court, a lawyer allegedly hurled a shoe at Chief Justice of India BR Gavai during a hearing on Monday morning.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the incident occurred around 11:35 a.m. in Courtroom No. 1, while a bench led by the Chief Justice was hearing the mentioning of cases by advocates. Eyewitnesses said that the lawyer, identified as Rakesh Kishore, suddenly removed his sports shoes and threw them toward the CJI before being restrained by security personnel.
Despite the commotion, CJI Gavai remained calm and urged lawyers to continue with their submissions. “Don’t get distracted by all this. We aren’t distracted. These things don’t affect me,” he was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench.
Police later confirmed that the accused lawyer, a resident of Mayur Vihar and a registered member of the Supreme Court Bar Association, was handed over to the Supreme Court’s security unit. Witnesses reported that the man shouted, “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge” (We will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan) as he was being escorted out of the courtroom.
Further investigation into the motive and background of the accused is underway.
The unprecedented act has raised alarm over the growing intolerance and ideological radicalization within sections of India’s professional and political circles. Analysts say the incident reflects the erosion of institutional respect and the rise of extremist sentiment even within the judiciary’s precincts. Observers note that such outbursts underscore a broader trend of deep polarization in Indian society, where dissent and faith-based narratives increasingly intersect with public conduct and professional spaces.
