CJI BR Gavai Reacts To Shoe Attack Inside Supreme Court: 'We Were...'

Days after the shocking shoe attack incident inside the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai has broken his silence, saying he and his colleague were “very shocked with what happened”. “My learned

brother and I were very shocked with what happened on Monday,” CJI Gavai said, before adding that he had moved on from the incident.“For us, it is a forgotten chapter,” he said during a courtroom exchange, referring to the episode that drew widespread outrage.Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, who was on the same bench, strongly condemned the act, calling it an “affront to the institution.”Also Read: Lawyer, Who Hurled Shoe At CJI, Barred From Practising In Supreme Court“I have my own views on this. He is the Chief Justice of India; it’s not a matter of joke! I am not apologetic thereafter; it’s an affront to the institution,” Justice Bhuyan remarked.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, present in court, also voiced his disapproval. “That was unpardonable,” he said, adding that the CJI’s “majesty and magnanimity” in choosing to let the matter rest were “commendable.”The incident, which took place inside Court No. 1 on Monday, occurred when 71-year-old lawyer Rakesh Kishore approached the dais during the mention of cases and attempted to hurl his shoe at the CJI.Security personnel quickly restrained him, and as he was escorted out, he shouted, “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge” (We will not tolerate any insult to Sanatan).While Kishore has remained unapologetic in the aftermath of the incident, the CJI has refused to press charges.“Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me,” the CJI said after the incident.Kishore was detained, questioned for hours, and later released. On Thursday, he was barred from practising in the Supreme Court.