Shoe-throw attempt at Supreme Court targets CJI Gavai

A 71-year-old lawyer attempted to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai inside the Supreme Court on October 6, prompting immediate intervention by court security and widespread condemnation. The incident occurred during mentioning hours in Court No. 1, where the bench headed by CJI Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran was hearing procedural matters.

The assailant, identified as advocate Rakesh Kishore, removed a shoe and moved toward the dais before security personnel detained him. As he was escorted out of the courtroom he shouted slogans including "Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge" and later told reporters he had been emotionally hurt by remarks made by the CJI in an earlier hearing. Court officials said CJI Gavai instructed the Registrar General not to press charges, and the lawyer was released. The Bar Council of India has suspended Kishore's license with immediate effect.

The episode followed a recent hearing in which the bench declined to entertain a petition seeking restoration of a beheaded Vishnu idol at a Khajuraho temple, noting the Archaeological Survey of India as the appropriate authority. In that hearing, the CJI suggested the petitioner seek religious...