Advocate Rajesh Kishore, who hurled a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai during a Supreme Court hearing on Monday, expressed no remorse on Tuesday, attributing the act to divine will and accusing the CJI of disrespecting Sanatan Dharma. The 68-year-old lawyer, a long-time practitioner at the apex court, claimed, "I did not do it; God did. The Chief Justice of India mocked Sanatan Dharma. This was the Almighty's order, a reaction to an action." His defiant statements, shared with media outlets outside the court premises, have amplified the controversy surrounding the incident, which unfolded amid heightened sensitivities over religious sentiments in judicial discourse.
The disruption occurred during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Kishore himself, seeking the reconstruction of a 7-foot beheaded idol of Lord Vishnu at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Khajuraho temples in Madhya Pradesh. Refusing to entertain the plea, CJI Gavai, heading a bench with Justice KV Viswanathan, reportedly remarked, "Go and ask the deity himself to do something," a quip intended to underscore the petition's frivolity but which ignited backlash on social media.
Critics, including Hindu advocacy groups, labelled the comment as flippant and insensitive toward devotees' faith, drawing parallels to past judicial faux pas that sparked public outcry. The Khajuraho site's historical significance, dating back to the 9th-11th centuries under the Chandela dynasty, adds layers to the PIL's cultural weight, though the bench dismissed it as beyond judicial purview, emphasising separation of powers.
Eyewitness accounts describe the courtroom chaos: As the bench pronounced its order, Kishore, seated in the front row, impulsively removed and flung his left shoe toward the dais, where it landed harmlessly near the judges' feet. CJI Gavai, maintaining remarkable composure, quipped, "I am the last person to be affected by such things. Please continue (the hearing)," before proceeding unfazed. Security personnel swiftly escorted Kishore out for questioning, but the CJI later directed the court registry against initiating contempt or disciplinary proceedings, a gesture rooted in his philosophy of judicial restraint and forgiveness. This leniency contrasts sharply with the Bar Council of India's (BCI) swift response, suspending Kishore's licence pending inquiry—a move the advocate decried as "crossing all limits" for bypassing due process and a disciplinary hearing.
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Kishore's outburst and subsequent claims reflect a growing intersection of religion, law, and public activism in India, where social media amplifies judicial remarks into national debates. In a clarifying statement, CJI Gavai reiterated, "Someone told me the other day that the comments I made have been portrayed on social media in a certain manner. I respect all religions," underscoring the bench's intent was humour rather than offence.
The BCI suspension, effective immediately, bars Kishore from practice until further notice, potentially marking the end of a career spanning over four decades. As the Supreme Court grapples with its caseload—over 80,000 pending matters—this episode highlights the pressures on judicial decorum and the fine line between wit and perceived irreverence in a diverse, faith-sensitive democracy.
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