NEW DELHI: Lawyers across Karnataka and Telangana staged protests on Wednesday, condemning the actions of advocate Rakesh Kishore, who allegedly attempted to hurl an object at Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai during a hearing in the Supreme Court earlier this week. The legal fraternity demanded stern disciplinary and legal action against the advocate, calling the act an “attack on the judiciary and the democratic fabric of the nation.”
Protests in Karnataka
Outside the Karnataka High Court in Bengaluru, lawyers assembled in large numbers, holding placards and shouting slogans against the accused advocate. The demonstration, led by several prominent bar associations, reflected widespread outrage among members of the legal community.
Human rights activist Narsinhamoorthy, who joined the protest, said, “Three days ago, during a hearing in the Supreme Court, an advocate called Rakesh Kishore hurled a shoe at the Chief Justice. It is not right for someone practising in the Supreme Court to take the law into their own hands.”
Echoing his sentiments, Vishwanath Reddy, president of the All India Advocate Association (Bengaluru District), condemned the incident, saying, “If this can happen to the Chief Justice of India, it can happen to others also. Nobody — whether an advocate, police officer, or member of the public — has the right to behave in such a manner. He needs to be punished, and necessary action must be taken immediately.”
Lawyers also submitted a memorandum to the Registrar General of the Karnataka High Court, urging the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the accused advocate, including suspension of his licence.
Outrage spreads to Telangana
The outrage was not confined to Karnataka. On Tuesday, the advocate fraternity in Telangana observed statewide protests condemning the incident. Demonstrations were held at the Telangana High Court and across district courts, with lawyers abstaining from court work in solidarity.
The Bar Council of Telangana issued a strongly worded statement, describing the alleged act as a “shameful and mindless attack that must be condemned by every Indian citizen.”
Council chairman A. Narsimha Reddy said, “We demand stern action against the advocate involved in the attack on the CJI. Such behaviour not only tarnishes the image of the legal profession but also undermines public trust in the judiciary.”
Bar associations call it an attack on judiciary and Constitution
At the Telangana High Court, A. Jagan, president of the High Court Advocates Association, said the incident was “not merely an attack on the CJI, but on the entire judiciary, the Constitution, and the democratic principles of the nation.”
He warned that if immediate action was not taken, lawyers across the state would boycott court proceedings in protest. “This is not a trivial matter — it is an attack on the institution that upholds justice. The government and judicial authorities must act decisively,” Jagan added.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Criminal Courts Bar Association in Nampally passed a formal resolution to abstain from court work on October 7, urging presiding officers not to pass any adverse orders on the day of the protest. Association president K. Ravi Kishore said the decision was meant to express solidarity with the judiciary and to emphasise the seriousness of the misconduct.
Legal community demands accountability
The protests have reignited conversations about professional ethics, courtroom security, and the need for stricter disciplinary oversight within the legal fraternity. Many senior advocates said that such incidents damage the dignity of the bar and erode public confidence in the judicial system.
Legal experts also called on the Bar Council of India to set an example by taking prompt action against the accused advocate, including cancellation of his enrolment if found guilty.
The incident has prompted discussions within the Supreme Court and other judicial forums about enhancing security measures inside courtrooms, particularly during high-profile hearings involving the Chief Justice and other senior judges.
As investigations continue, the nationwide protests reflect the legal community’s unified stance — that no act undermining the sanctity of the judiciary can be tolerated.