An Indian lawyer, Rakesh Kishore, threw a shoe at Chief Justice BR Gavai during court proceedings in Delhi on a recent Monday, reportedly in response to remarks the judge made regarding Hinduism. This act, recognized in India as a significant public insult and security violation, occurred amidst ongoing legal discussions.
Witnesses in the courtroom confirmed the incident, stating that the shoe made contact with the judge and fell behind him and another justice. As security personnel escorted Kishore away, he reportedly expressed that “India won’t tolerate insult to Sanatan Dharma.” Following the incident, Kishore was suspended from practice.
Advocate Ravi Jha, who was present during the altercation, described Kishore’s actions and noted that once Kishore was apprehended, Chief Justice Gavai instructed the remaining lawyers to proceed with their arguments undistracted. Reports indicate that Gavai maintained a composed demeanor throughout the disruption.
The motivation for Kishore’s actions remains unclear, although some media suggest it may be connected to a recent court ruling, wherein the Chief Justice dismissed a petition for the reconstruction of a Lord Vishnu idol at a temple in Madhya Pradesh. In that ruling, Gavai remarked that the request was driven by “publicity interest litigation” and suggested that petitioners seek guidance from the deity directly. These comments incited controversy, with some alleging that he disrespected Hindu beliefs, although Gavai later asserted his respect for all religions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the shoe attack, stating that it angered every Indian and categorizing it as unacceptable behavior in society. The Chief Justice has not made any public comments regarding the matter, and Indian authorities later confirmed that no charges would be filed against Kishore.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80g4d5epm8o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss