In an unprecedented incident inside the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Thursday terminated the membership of advocate Rakesh Kishore, who attempted to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai during court proceedings. The Bar Council of India (BCI) also suspended his licence with immediate effect.
The 71-year-old lawyer shouted “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge” (will not tolerate insult to Sanatan Dharma) before attempting to throw a shoe towards the CJI. The act, which took place inside the courtroom, was immediately condemned as a serious security breach and an affront to the dignity of the court.
Terming Kishore’s actions as “reprehensible, disorderly and intemperate behaviour”, the SCBA passed a resolution expelling him from the association with immediate effect.
“The Executive Committee finds that the said conduct amounts to a direct assault on judicial independence, the sanctity of courtroom proceedings, and the longstanding relationship of mutual respect and trust between the Bar and the Bench,” the resolution stated.
The Committee observed that allowing Kishore to remain a temporary member would be “wholly inconsistent with the dignity and discipline expected of members of this Association.”
The BCI swiftly followed suit by suspending Kishore’s licence to practice, pending further disciplinary proceedings. The Council termed the conduct as “grave misconduct” under professional ethics rules.
