NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Thursday said he and Justice K Vinod Chandran were shocked when an advocate attempted to hurl a shoe at him on October 6, during the court proceedings, but it is now a forgotten chapter.
The CJI broke his silence and clarified his position with regard to the incident in which advocate Rakesh Kishore attempted to hurl a shoe in the courtroom.
He made the observation during the hearing on a batch of pleas seeking review and modifications of the Vanashakti verdict, which prohibited the Centre from granting retrospective or ex-post facto environmental clearances to projects found violating environmental norms.
On the attack, he said, "My learned brother (Justice Chandran) and I were very shocked with what happened on Monday. For us it is a forgotten chapter".
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the act of the lawyer was unpardonable and hailed the CJI for his magnanimity and composure.
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, who was also on the bench, differed with the action against the errant lawyer.
"I have my own views on this. He is CJI, it is not a matter of joke," he said.
Justice Bhuyan said, the attack was an affront to the apex court and due action should have been taken.
On a request by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, the CJI proceeded with the hearing, saying, "for us it is a forgotten chapter…".
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Bar Association on Thursday terminated with immediate effect the membership of lawyer Rakesh Kishore, who attempted to hurl an object towards the CJI inside the courtroom, after finding him guilty of "grave misconduct".
The SCBA said Kishore's "reprehensible, disorderly and intemperate behaviour" amounted to "a direct assault on judicial independence" and "a serious breach of professional ethics, decorum and the dignity of the Supreme Court."
"The executive committee finds that the said conduct amounts to a direct assault on judicial independence, the sanctity of courtroom proceedings, and the longstanding relationship of mutual respect and trust between the Bar and the Bench,” the SCBA said in a resolution.
71-year-old Kishore, who made the attempt to throw shoes on the CJI during the court proceedings, sought to justify his acts claiming he was deeply hurt by remarks made in Lord Vishnu idol case last month. He was suspended by an interim by the Bar Council of India and barred from practicing in any court of the country.
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