New Delhi: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has ordered the suspension of 71-year-old advocate Rakesh Kishore from legal practice after he allegedly threw a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai inside the Supreme Court on Monday morning.
“On the basis of prima facie material, it appears that at 11.35 am… in court No. 1 of the Supreme Court of India, you i.e. Advocate Rakesh Kishore, enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi… removed your sports shoes and attempted to hurl them towards the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India during ongoing proceedings, whereupon you were detained by security. The conduct is, on the face of the record, inconsistent with the… rules and the dignity of the court,” read the order signed by BCI chairman and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra.
“In view of the foregoing, you, i.e. Advocate Rakesh Kishore, are suspended from practice with immediate effect,” it said. After three hours of questioning, the Delhi Police allowed Kishore to go after the apex court’s registrar general refused to press charges against him.
“This order shall also be served through the Bar Council of Delhi, which shall serve the advocate at his enrolled address and registered email and shall file a compliance report with the Bar Council of India within two days of receipt of this order. Within 48 hours of such service, you shall be required to file an affidavit of compliance physically at Bar Council of India office and at Bar Council of Delhi office, and send a notarised scanned copy of the same to [email protected], confirming that you are not appearing in any matter during the period of suspension,” the suspension order added.
Kishore, who lives in Mayur Vihar Phase 1, has been debarred by the BCI from appearing, acting, pleading or practising in any court, tribunal or authority in India.
“A show cause notice shall be issued to you to explain, within 15 days from service of this order, why this action should not be continued and such further orders as deemed appropriate be passed,” the BCI order said. “Disciplinary proceedings shall be initiated against you in accordance with law,” it added.
While questioning Kishore, the Delhi Police asked him about his motive for throwing the shoe at CJI Gavai.
“The advocate has claimed that he was unhappy with the CJI’s remarks during a recent hearing of a plea seeking the restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol in the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh,” a source said.
The police said they recovered a white paper note from Kishore’s possession, which read: “Mera sandesh har Sanatani ke liye hai… Sanatan dharma ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan.” (Indian Express)
