New Delhi – The legal community was gripped by news of unprecedented disciplinary action this week after the Bar Council of India (BCI) suspended advocate Rajesh Kishore from practicing law.
The suspension follows a shocking incident where Kishore allegedly attempted to hurl a shoe at the Chief Justice of India, Justice B.R. Gavai, while proceedings were underway in the Supreme Court on Monday.
The swift action by the BCI underscores the zero-tolerance policy for flagrant contempt and misconduct within the apex judicial institution.
The Incident
Sources indicate that the disturbance occurred during a court hearing. Advocate Kishore, reportedly attempting to express extreme displeasure or air grievances, directed the projectile towards the CJI. While the attempt was unsuccessful in striking the Judge, the act itself constitutes a grave violation of the decorum, respect, and dignity required of legal practitioners in court.
BCI Cites Grave Misconduct
The Bar Council of India, the statutory body that regulates legal practice in the country, wasted no time in responding to the incident, viewing it as a direct attack on the judiciary.
The suspension order against Advocate Kishore is immediate and effectively bars him from appearing in any court, tribunal, or authority until further disciplinary proceedings are concluded.
Such actions are rare and reserved for instances of the most egregious professional misconduct that threaten the integrity of the judicial process itself.
Legal experts suggest that the BCI’s decisive response is intended to send a strong message across the country’s bar associations, reiterating the solemn duty of advocates to uphold the majesty of the law, regardless of personal disappointment or frustration with case outcomes.
Further investigation into the matter and the final decision on Advocate Kishore’s professional fate will be determined by the Disciplinary Committee of the Bar Council of India in the coming weeks.
The Supreme Court has yet to comment on the possibility of initiating separate criminal contempt proceedings.Published on Lawyers Arc, October 6, 2025.
