‘I was surprised by what happened that day…’, what did CJI Gavai say on the incident of trying to throw a shoe?

Chief Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai has called the incident of an attempt to throw a shoe at him ‘a forgotten chapter’. The Chief Justice said this on Thursday (October 9, 2025) when senior advocate Gopal Shankaranarayan mentioned a similar incident that happened a few years ago during the hearing of a case. He said that then the bench had taken contempt action against the person doing such act.

During the hearing on the petitions filed for reconsideration of the Supreme Court’s Vanashakti decision, Advocate Gopal Shankaranarayan said, ‘I had written an article about this. Some such incidents had happened in the court 10 years ago. At that time, two judges had given their opinion regarding the powers of contempt and the process of their implementation as to what should happen in such a situation.

On this, the Chief Justice said, ‘I and the judges sitting with me were shocked by what happened on Monday, but now for us it is a forgotten chapter.’ However, the second judge of the bench, Ujjal Bhuiyan, said that this incident is an insult to the Supreme Court. He said, ‘I have different views on this. This incident should not be forgotten. He is the Chief Justice of the country. This is no joke. I am not giving any kind of apology to anyone… This is a blow to the entire institution because as judges over the years we do many things which other people may not consider appropriate, but that does not diminish the confidence in our own decisions.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that this was an unforgivable crime, but the restraint and generosity shown by the court and the bench is commendable and inspiring. Whatever happened in the court before this is completely unforgivable. Concluding, the CJI said that now that chapter is a forgotten history for us. We have moved forward.

On October 6, Supreme Court lawyer Rakesh Kishore had tried to throw a shoe at CJI Gavai. Rakesh Kishore says that he is angry with CJI Gavai’s comment on the petition demanding restoration of the 7 feet broken statue of Lord Vishnu in Khajuraho temple. CJI Gavai had refused to hear the matter, saying it was within the jurisdiction of ASI. The CJI had told the petitioner that since he says that he is a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, he should pray to God to do something.