NEW DELHI – A lawyer attempted to throw a shoe at India’s Chief Justice B.R. gavai in the Supreme Court on Monday,prompting a swift intervention by security personnel,according to media reports and lawyers present. The incident stemmed from recent remarks made by the Chief Justice regarding the Hindu god Vishnu.
The attempt occurred after Chief Justice Gavai recently stated, during separate court proceedings, that an individual seeking the replacement of a damaged Vishnu statue should “go and ask the deity himself to do something.” The court subsequently dismissed the plea.
The lawyer approached the bench where Gavai was seated and was stopped by security as he prepared to throw the object. It was unclear whether the item was a shoe or a roll of paper, LiveLaw reported. As he was escorted from the courtroom, the lawyer reportedly shouted, “We will not tolerate any insult to Sanatan Dharma,” another name for Hinduism, according to the Hindustan Times.
Chief Justice Gavai, who is scheduled to retire next month, instructed the court to continue proceedings despite the disruption.
Last month, Gavai clarified that his earlier comments about the deity had been misinterpreted and affirmed his respect for all religions.The Supreme Court Advocates-on-record Association condemned the incident, calling for court action against the lawyer, and stating the behavior was “antithetical to the dignity of the legal profession.”
India’s Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta attributed the incident to misinformation circulating on social media, stating in a text message to Reuters, “I have personally seen Chief Justice visiting religious places of all religions with full reverence.”
