An Indian lawyer launched a shoe in the president of the Supreme Court BR Gavai during the judicial procedures in Delhi on Monday, after the comments that the judge allegedly made about Hinduism.
According to the reports of the Indian media and the witnesses present in the courtroom, the shoe was lost by little the president of the Supreme Court Gavai and another justice before being left behind. The incident has been described as a serious violation of the security of the court and a serious act of lack of public respect.
The lawyer, identified as Rakesh Kishore, was immediately restricted by security officials.
“We will not tolerate any insult to Sanatan Dharma,” Hindustan newspaper saying.
An association of lawyers of the Supreme Court condemned Monday's incident and demanded that the court initiate procedures against the lawyer involved.
“This behavior is antithetic to the dignity of the legal profession and, contrary to the constitutional values of decorum, discipline and institutional integrity,” said the Association of Lawyers of the Supreme Court in a statement.
India's general lawyer, Tushar Mehta, said the attack was the result of erroneous information on social networks.
“I have personally seen the president of the Supreme Court visiting religious places of all religions with full reverence,” Mehta told Reuters In a text message
The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, described the attack of the “completely condemnable” shoe, joining a choir of criticism from the entire political spectrum. Modi spoke with Judge Gavai and said the attack had angered all the Indians, PTI reports. “There is no place for such representable acts in our society,” said the prime minister.
Speaking a shoe to someone in public is seen as an act of lack of respect and humiliation in India and in many other countries.
– With additional contributions from Reuters
