CJI Gavai shrugs off shoe attack in court, says ‘Just ignore it’

In a dramatic yet swiftly contained disruption inside the Supreme Court on October 6, Chief Justice of India B R Gavai remained unflappable when a lawyer hurled a shoe in his direction during proceedings.

“I am not distracted by all this. You also don’t be distracted and proceed further with the case,” the CJI told the counsel appearing before him. He said nothing struck him: “I only heard the sound. Maybe it fell on some table or somewhere.”

The lawyer, later identified as 70-year-old advocate Rakesh Kishore, was quickly escorted out by security. Eyewitnesses said Kishore flung the shoe during mentioning hours in Court No. 1 before waiting briefly and being removed.

The CJI, however, directed the Supreme Court Registry not to pursue any action. Delhi Police, informed of his decision, subsequently released Kishore. Police sources said the outburst stemmed from Kishore’s anger over CJI Gavai’s September 16 remarks while dismissing a plea to reconstruct a Lord Vishnu idol at Khajuraho’s Javari Temple.

At the time, the CJI, sitting with Justice K. Vinod Chandran, had rebuked the plea as “publicity interest litigation,” quipping that devotees should “pray and meditate” instead. Following social media backlash, he later clarified that he respects all faiths and was speaking in the context of the Archaeological Survey of India’s jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court Bar Association condemned the incident as a “direct assault on judicial independence” and praised the Chief Justice’s “calm composure and exemplary restraint” in continuing to hear cases despite the provocation.