Attack on CJI | Supreme Court Lawyer Asks for Attorney General's Consent to File Criminal Contempt Case

New Delhi: A Supreme Court lawyer has written to the Attorney General for India, R. Venkataramani, asking for his consent to file criminal contempt proceedings against an advocate who tried to throw a shoe at the Chief Justice of India, B.R. Gavai, at a courtroom on October 6.

LiveLaw has reported that advocate Subhash Chandran K.R. has asked for Venkataramani's consent – a necessity for contempt cases under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

Chandran has noted that Rakesh Kishore's attack of the CJI and what he shouted – "Sanatan dharm ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan (Hindustan will not tolerate disrespect towards Sanatan Dharma)" – mounts to gross interference with the administration of justice and undermines the dignity of the Supreme Court.

Amidst what has been an escalating push by the Hindutva brigade to attack the CJI, Kishore also defended his actions. “No remorse, I did the right thing. I considered all the consequences…that I will be going to jail, I will be suffering there…but it was in the name of God, because God was provoking me to do all this,” Kishore told the media.

Chandran's letter notes that "the most contemptuous act of the Contemnor diminishes the majesty and authority of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and defeats the Constitution of India."

This is the second petition before the Attorney General for India seeking contempt action. A day ago a petition sought similar action against orator Aniruddhacharya aka Aniruddh Ram Tiwari and YouTuber Ajeet Bharti for inciting this attack.

The Wire Hindi has reported that a concerted hate campaign by pro-Hindutva social media participants had been underway against CJI Gavai’s remarks for a while before the attack earlier this week. Another report on The Wire has analysed how such attacks have been going on despite senior government functionaries' disapproval of the attack.

The source of this ire appears to be a hearing of a PIL seeking restoration of the idol of the Hindu deity Vishnu in one of the heritage sites in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. While dismissing it as a stunt, Justice Gavai had remarked, “Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation.”

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