Bar Council of India Suspends Advocate for Shoe Attack on Chief Justice Gavai: Immediate Legal Consequences

Chief Justice BR Gavai remained composed during the shoe-throwing incident and proceeded with the hearing without interruption.

New Delhi:

The Bar Council of India (BCI) suspended advocate Rakesh Kishore with immediate effect on Monday following his attempt to attack Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai inside the Supreme Court premises.

In an official letter addressed to advocate Rakesh Kishore and the Bar Council of Delhi, BCI Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra stated that Kishore's behavior violated the Rules on Standards of Professional Conduct and Etiquette and undermined the dignity of the court.

"It appears that at approximately 11:35 a.m. on October 6, 2025, in Court No. 1 of the Supreme Court of India, you, Advocate Rakesh Kishore, enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi under enrollment numbers D/1647/2009, removed your sports shoes and attempted to throw them toward the Honorable Chief Justice of India during ongoing proceedings, after which you were detained by security personnel... In view of these circumstances, you, Advocate Rakesh Kishore, are suspended from practice with immediate effect," the interim order declared.

During this suspension period, Kishore is prohibited from appearing, acting, pleading, or practicing in any court, tribunal, or legal authority throughout India.

The BCI instructed the Delhi Bar Council to ensure prompt compliance with its interim order by updating Kishore's status in its records and informing all courts and tribunals within its jurisdiction.

The suspension order will be distributed to the registries of the Supreme Court, all High Courts, all District Courts, and relevant Bar Associations, including the Supreme Court Bar Association.

"Any identity card, proximity pass, or access permission issued by any court or Bar Association to you as an advocate shall remain inoperative while this order is in effect," the directive further stated.

Kishore is also required to submit an affidavit of compliance within 48 hours of receiving the order, confirming that he is not appearing in any legal matters during his suspension period.

A show cause notice will be issued requiring him to explain within 15 days why the suspension should not continue and why additional disciplinary action should not be taken.

"This order is interim and without prejudice to any proceedings under the general law or the Advocates Act, 1961," the BCI clarified in its statement.