The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has terminated the temporary membership of advocate Rakesh Kishore with immediate effect. This comes days after an incident in which he attempted to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India, B.R. Gavai, inside the court premises.
In a unanimous resolution passed by the SCBA, Kishore’s membership, bearing No. K-01029/RES dated 27.07.2011, was revoked with immediate effect. The association also directed that his name be removed from its rolls.
The SCBA condemned Kishore’s actions, calling them “reprehensible, disorderly, and intemperate behaviour,” and said such conduct was “unbecoming of an officer of the court and inconsistent with the discipline expected of members of the Bar.”
The resolution further stated that if a membership card had been issued to Kishore, it “stands cancelled and forfeited forthwith.” Additionally, the SCBA said it would formally request the Secretary-General of the Supreme Court to revoke his proximity access card.
According to a report by Hindustan Times, criminal contempt proceedings are being considered against the 71-year-old lawyer. A letter has reportedly been sent to the Attorney General of India seeking permission to initiate legal action against Kishore. The Bar Council of India has also moved swiftly, suspending Kishore from legal practice.
Speaking to ANI the day after the incident, Kishore claimed that his actions stemmed from “emotional pain” and not political motivation or criminal intent. He said he had no prior criminal record and no political affiliations.
Kishore alleged that a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Chief Justice’s court on September 16 had been mocked by Justice Gavai. “He said, ‘Go pray to the idol, ask the idol to restore its own head,’” Kishore claimed, stating that the comment deeply hurt his religious sentiments. He added, “It was not out of anger, but emotional distress... I felt there was inconsistent judicial treatment between communities.” Despite the gravity of the act, Kishore expressed no remorse.
The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from all corners of the political landscape.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called the attempted attack “utterly condemnable.” National spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said the act “hurt every Indian” and went against “India’s constitutional, social, and cultural traditions.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also reacted strongly to the incident. In a post on X, he said, “There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society. It is utterly condemnable. I appreciated the calm displayed by Justice Gavai in the face of such a situation. It highlights his commitment to values of justice and strengthening the spirit of our Constitution.”
Opposition leaders from the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), NCP-Sharad Pawar faction, Shiv Sena (UBT), DMK, and other parties echoed similar sentiments. In a joint statement, they described the act as “an assault on the Constitution” and a symptom of how “hate and fanaticism have engulfed society.”
