Shoe-Throwing Incident: Supreme Court Seeks Joint Suggestions from SCBA and Centre to Prevent Similar Incidents & Regulate Media Reporting

The Supreme Court, while hearing the contempt petition against Rakesh Kishore, has asked the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Union of India to jointly put up suggestions/recommendations for some preventive measures to prevent incidents in the courtroom.

The Supreme Court Bar Association filed the present contempt petition against Advocate Kishore, who attempted to hurl a shoe towards ex-CJI Gavai on October 6 during court proceedings.

The Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ordered, "Learned Senior Counsel Vikas Singh, President Supreme Court Bar Association and Learned Solicitor General Tushar Mehta jointly submit that they will put up some suggestions for consideration of this Court, recommending some preventive measures for this kind of occurence and the protocol to be observed by everyone in the matter of reporting and publicising such incidents."

Senior Advocate Vikas Singh appeared for the Supreme Court Bar Association, whereas Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the Union of India.

Senior Advocate Singh submitted, "I will make them (Union of India) a formal party, I will make some suggestions to them so that it can be incorporated in IT Rules or SC Rules. So we are thinking of incorporating them. There is some responsibility on media houses and social media platforms to also ensure that these kinds of materials are not propagated."

Solicitor General Mehta said, "I will waive service, and we will assist the Court. I will speak with Mr Vikas Singh, and we will put some joint suggestions."

CJI Kant remarked, "Ideally,  you should do that, because this is not an adversarial issue."

Background

Earlier, the bench expressed its reluctance in initiating criminal contempt proceedings against 71-year-old lawyer Rakesh Kishore, who attempted to throw a shoe at the then CJI and said the court would look into whatever needs to be done.

It asked the SCBA to give their suggestions as the court would look to formulate pan-India preventive guidelines. 

"Just think of giving three-four suggestions on how to prevent such incidents in places like court premises and bar rooms, etc. All of you, please give suggestions...Whatever requires to be done, we will see on the next date. We will request the attorney general also to give his suggestions in this regard," Chief Justice Kant said on November 12.

Kishore's act prompted the Bar Council of India (BCI) to terminate his licence with immediate effect.

After the incident, the Supreme Court Bar Association condemned the act, while criticising "predatory journalism" which amplified misrepresented narratives on social media, and portrayed the Chief Justice B.R Gavai’s "balanced observations" in the Khajuraho case as being disrespectful to religious sentiments. In a Resolution passed by the Executive Committee of the SCBA, the SCBA expressed shock and condemned the act committed by the Advocate in the courtroom of the Chief Justice of India, Justice B.R. Gavai.

The incident sparked widespread condemnation, including from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who also spoke to Chief Justice Gavai.

On October 16, 2025, the Attorney General granted consent for initiating contempt action against an advocate, who had hurled a shoe towards Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, the Supreme Court was today informed.

Cause Title: Supreme Court Bar Association vs Rakesh Kishore [Cont. Pet. (Crl.) No. 1/2025]