Lawyer Throws Shoe at India’s CJ Over Religious Remarks

News Desk

New Delhi: An Indian lawyer hurled a shoe at Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Monday during court proceedings in Delhi, in what has been widely described as a serious breach of courtroom protocol and a public insult.

The attacker, Rakesh Kishore, reportedly acted in response to remarks the chief justice made about Hinduism while dismissing a petition to reconstruct a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu in Madhya Pradesh. Mr Kishore shouted, “India won’t tolerate insult to Sanatan Dharma [Hinduism]” as he was restrained by security officials.

Eyewitnesses said the shoe “brushed against the chief justice and another justice before falling behind them.” Advocate Ravi Shanker Jha, who was present, added that Kishore “threw his shoe and raised his hand to indicate the act”. Despite the disruption, Chief Justice Gavai reportedly remained calm and instructed lawyers to continue proceedings.

Mr Kishore has been suspended from practicing law, though authorities confirmed no criminal charges would be filed against him.

Speaking to Indian news outlet The Print, he said the attack stemmed from Gavai’s comments made on 16 September, when the court dismissed the petition and the chief justice remarked: “This is purely publicity interest litigation… Go and ask the deity himself to do something.”

Kishore accused the judge of mocking the Hindu god Vishnu, adding that he had been unable to sleep since the comments.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack, calling it “utterly condemnable” and emphasizing that “there is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society.” Modi also spoke with Chief Justice Gavai, who has not made any public statement on the incident.

Throwing shoes as a form of protest has previously gained international attention, including incidents against former U.S. President George W. Bush in 2008 and Kenyan President William Ruto earlier this year. In India, such acts are widely seen as serious public insults.

The incident has sparked renewed debate over courtroom security and the sensitivity of religious discourse in public life, highlighting tensions between freedom of expression and respect for religious sentiments in India.