Supreme Court Declines Contempt Action Against Lawyer Who Hurled Shoe At CJI Gavai

The Supreme Court on Monday (27 October) declined to initiate contempt proceedings against the 71-year-old lawyer who hurled a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, saying it did not want to give “undue importance” to the act.

The court said the incident should “die its own natural death.”

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi observed that prosecuting the lawyer would only amplify the incident and lead to further glorification.

However, the court said it would consider framing guidelines to prevent and regulate the social media publication or glorification of such acts in the future.

While choosing restraint, the bench underlined that the judiciary’s strength lies in its composure and dignity. “Let the incident die its own natural death,” the court remarked, adding that unnecessary publicity would only serve to encourage similar behaviour.

The shoe-hurling incident took place on 6 October at the Supreme Court, when 71-year-old lawyer Rajesh Kishore threw a shoe toward Chief Justice of India BR Gavai during proceedings.

The act, which did not hit the CJI, stemmed from Kishore’s anger over remarks made by the Chief Justice in a previous hearing related to a temple idol case, where Gavai said the pettitioner to ask Lord Vishnu to restore the idol's broken head.

Kishore later said he had “no regrets”, claiming he acted because “the Almighty was asking me every night how I could rest after such an insult.” He also insisted he was sober and “not driven by anger.”

The Bar Council of India suspended Kishore’s licence and condemned the act as an attack on the dignity of the judiciary.

While the Attorney General granted consent for contempt proceedings, the Supreme Court chose not to pursue them, saying prosecuting him would “give undue importance” and “glorify the incident.”

The court said it would instead consider issuing guidelines on preventing such acts and their social media amplification.

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