The Supreme Court on Wednesday took serious note of the recent “shoe-throwing” incident within its precincts, terming it an attack on the dignity of the institution. The matter was mentioned before a Bench led by Justice Surya Kant.

During the brief hearing, Attorney General R. Venkataramani had granted consent to initiate contempt proceedings in connection with the incident.

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Vikas Singh mentioned the matter, expressing grave concern over the glorification of the act on social media. He urged the Court to pass an order restraining such glorification, noting that the “very sanctity of the institution is at stake.”

Supporting the concern, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta observed that social media was “full of posts demeaning the institution,” and praised the Chief Justice of India for showing remarkable calm and strength in silence amid the controversy.

Justice Bagchi, however, remarked that the individuals behind such acts were “attention seekers,” adding that the incident would “die a natural death.” “During Diwali, some other incident will happen, and people will forget this,” he noted, emphasizing that “on social media, everything is monetized — even your mentioning will be monetized.”

At the request of the SCBA, the Bench directed that the matter be listed after the Diwali vacation.

The incident, which has sparked widespread outrage, has prompted calls within the legal fraternity for stronger safeguards to protect the dignity of the judiciary and prevent the glorification of contemptuous conduct online.