India: Lawyer Suspended After Throwing Shoe at Chief Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai

An Indian lawyer threw a shoe at Chief Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai in the Supreme Court of Delhi after allegedly making offensive remarks about a Hindu deity. The incident, deemed a serious breach of respect and security, occurred on Monday, as reported by the BBC in an article published on Tuesday, October 7.

The lawyer, Rakesh Kishore, angrily shouted that "India will not tolerate insults to Sanatan Dharma" before being escorted out of the courtroom and suspended. Despite the disruption, Justice Gavai remained calm and called for the proceedings to continue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the "unacceptable act" and expressed his support for Justice Gavai. In India, throwing a shoe at someone is regarded as a profound sign of disrespect.

It’s worth noting that Chief Justice Shri Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai had paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam on October 2, in the presence of Attorney General Me Gavin Glover and the High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, Shri Anurag Shrivastava. This meeting aimed to strengthen the historical and institutional ties between India and Mauritius, discussing judicial cooperation and sharing experiences in law and justice administration.