New Delhi: Chaos ensued Monday inside Court No. 1 in the Supreme Court after a lawyer attempted to hurl an object at the Chief Justice of India, B.R. Gavai, during proceedings.
Detained by the police, the lawyer was identified as Rakesh Kishore, a member of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). Sources in Delhi Police confirmed to ThePrint that Kishore was let off since the police did not receive any complaint from Registrar General of the apex court to initiate criminal proceedings against him.
The incident occurred while a bench of judges headed by Gavai was hearing matters listed for the day. Kishore reportedly approached the bench and tried to remove his shoe, aiming it at the CJI. However, security personnel present in the room were quick to respond, apprehending the lawyer and escorting him out of the room.
Preliminary reports in a section of the media quote Kishore as saying, “Sanatan ka apmaan nahi sahenge.” (We will not tolerate insult of Sanatan)
The Chief Justice of India, reports suggest, was unaffected by the incident and urged the lawyers present to continue with their arguments, saying, “Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me.”
According to Bar and Bench, a legal news outlet, one possible reason for the attempt could be comments Gavai made in a case related to the restoration of a seven-foot beheaded idol of Lord Vishnu at Khajuraho, where he reportedly said, “Go and ask the deity itself to do something now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. So go and pray now. It’s an archaeological site and ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) needs to give permission, etc.”
Gavai has since apologised for his comment, adding that he meant no disrespect to any religion.
Following the incident, the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCOARA) released a statement saying: “We unanimously express deep anguish and disapproval at the recent act of an advocate who, by his unwarranted and intemperate gesture, sought to disrespect the office and authority of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India and his companion Judges. Such conduct is unbecoming of a member of the Bar and strikes at the very foundation of mutual respect that sustains the relationship between the Bench and the Bar.
“SCOARA further expresses its considered view that the Supreme Court of India may be pleased to take suo motu cognisance of the said conduct and initiate appropriate proceedings for contempt of court, as the act/gesture is a calculated move to scandalise the authority of the Supreme Court and lower its dignity in the eyes of the public...”
This is an updated version of the report
(With inputs from Mayank Kumar)
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)
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