An Indian lawyer threw a shoe against Chief Justice BR Gavai during lawsuits in Delhi on Monday after remarks, which the judge allegedly made about Hinduism.
According to Indian media reports and witnesses present in the courtroom, the shoe narrowly missed Chief Justice Gavai and another justice before falling behind them. The incident has been described as both a serious breach of legal security and a serious act of publicly disrespect.
The lawyer identified as Rakesh Kishore immediately became reluctant by security officials.
“We will not tolerate any insult to Sanatan Dharma,” the attacker whose name was not given in reports of the incident, shouted when he was brought out and referred to another name to Hinduism, the Hindustan Times Avis said.
An association of the Supreme Court’s lawyers condemned Monday’s incident and demanded that the court began procedures against the lawyer involved.
“This behavior is antithetical to the dignity of the legal profession and in contrast to the constitutional values of decorum, discipline and institutional integrity,” the Supreme Court spokesman for the record association said in a statement.
India’s General Advocate Tushar Mehta said the attack was a result of incorrect information on social media.
“I have personally seen Chief Justice visit religious places for all religions with full reverence,” Mehta told Reuters In a text message
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the shoe attack “completely condemned” and joined a choir of criticism from all over the political spectrum. Modi spoke to Justice Gavai and said the attack had angry any Indian, PTI reports. “There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society,” said the Prime Minister.
Throwing a shoe on someone publicly seen as an act of respect and humiliation in India and many other countries.
– With additional input from Reuters
