In a decisive move to uphold judicial dignity, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has terminated the temporary membership of Advocate Rakesh Kishore, who attempted to hurl a sports shoe at Chief Justice of India BR Gavai inside the courtroom on October 6.

The SCBA’s Executive Committee, in a unanimous resolution, stated that Kishore’s membership, bearing No. K-01029/RES dated July 27, 2011, stands terminated with immediate effect, and his SCBA membership card has been cancelled and forfeited. The Association has also written to the Secretary-General of the Supreme Court of India to revoke Kishore’s proximity access card without delay.

The resolution described Kishore’s behaviour as “reprehensible, disorderly, and intemperate”, declaring it “utterly unbecoming of an officer of the court” and a serious breach of professional ethics and courtroom decorum. The Executive Committee observed that the incident constituted a direct assault on judicial independence and the long-standing relationship of trust between the Bar and the Bench.

“Continuation of Mr. Kishore as a temporary member would be wholly inconsistent with the dignity and discipline expected of the members of this Association,” the SCBA stated.

On the morning of October 6, the lawyer allegedly attempted to throw a shoe at CJI Gavai during court proceedings. Security personnel quickly restrained him and escorted him out of the courtroom. Eyewitnesses reported that Kishore shouted, “Sanatan Dharam ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan” (“India will not tolerate disrespect towards Sanatan Dharma”) as he was being removed.

He was detained by Delhi Police but released later, after the Registrar of the Supreme Court declined to initiate criminal proceedings.

According to The Indian Express, police recovered a handwritten note from his possession stating, “Mera sandesh har sanatani ke liye hai… Sanatan Dharma ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan” (“My message is for all Sanatanis — India will not tolerate disrespect to Sanatan Dharma”).

The Supreme Court Officers and Employees Recreation Association (SCOARA) and the SCBA both issued strongly worded statements denouncing the incident as an attack on the dignity of the Chief Justice and the institution of the judiciary. Both bodies urged the initiation of contempt proceedings against the advocate.

Meanwhile, the Bar Council of India (BCI) took swift disciplinary action, passing an interim suspension order against Rakesh Kishore, who is enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi, thereby barring him from practising law with immediate effect.

The shocking incident triggered nationwide condemnation cutting across political lines.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Chief Ministers M.K. Stalin (Tamil Nadu), Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala), and Siddaramaiah (Karnataka), among others, publicly denounced the attack.

Leaders across the political spectrum described it as an affront to the judiciary and democratic values, reaffirming that personal beliefs can never justify violence or disrespect toward judicial authorities.