Institute of Legal and Management Studies

The Supreme Court will hear on Monday (October 27) the petition filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association seeking criminal contempt proceedings against Advocate Rakesh Kishore for his attempt to throw a shoe at the Chief Justice of India during proceedings on October 6.

A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi will hear the matter.

On October 16, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, the President of the SCBA, had mentioned the matter before Justice Kant's bench, informing that the Attorney General for India has granted consent to initiate the criminal contempt proceedings. Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta also backed the plea.

However, the bench expressed reservations about pursuing contempt action, wondering if it would revive the issue again. Pointing out that CJI BR Gavai himself had decided not to pursue action against him, the bench suggested that it would be wise to let the issue have its natural death. The bench also wondered if it should spend time on this matter, which can be better utilised for more pressing cases.

Singh however stressed that the issue related to the honour of the institution and pointed out that the attacker was keeping on giving media statements justifying his act. He also raised concerns about social media users who are glorifying the attack on the CJI and said that a "John Doe" order is also being sought against such posts.

Case : SUPREME COURT BAR ASSOCIATION v. RAKESH KISHORE | CONMT.PET.(Crl.) No. 1/2025