CJI Shoe-Attack: AG Grants Consent For Contempt Proceedings Against Advocate Rakesh Kishore

Attorney General R. Venkatramani has granted consent for the initiation of contempt proceedings against advocate Rakesh Kishore following a shoe-throwing incident at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the AG has granted consent and emphasised that the “institutional integrity” of the judiciary is at stake.

Justice Surya Kant commented, “We are all for speech, but the problem is how to regulate it.” He added, “Our religion never promotes violence, in social media everything is a saleable thing.”

The Supreme Court will now proceed with the contempt case against Kishore.

Kishore attempted to hurl a shoe towards CJI Gavai in his courtroom at the Supreme Court. Alert security personnel present inside the courtroom immediately intervened and prevented the attack. The Bar Council of India (BCI) has suspended Kishore’s licence with immediate effect.

Despite the disruption, CJI Gavai remained calm, telling the courtroom, “Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me.”

According to police sources said the lawyer was reportedly upset by the CJI’s comments last month during a hearing on the restoration of a Vishnu idol in Khajuraho.

Terming the plea a “publicity interest litigation”, the CJI had said, “This is purely publicity interest litigation…. Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation.”