‘CJI BR Gavai attacked because he is Dalit’: Union minister seeks action under SC/ST Act against advocate Rakesh Kishore

Ramdas Athawale

Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Thursday sought the registration of a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the 71-year-old advocate Rakesh Kishore who hurled a shoe at chief justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai during court proceedings.

He stated that the incident occurred because a certain people from the upper caste community could not come to terms with the fact that Gavai, who belongs to the Dalit community, has risen to such a high position.

Strongly condemning the incident, Athawale, a prominent Dalit leader and minister of state for social justice and empowerment, said that such kind of an attack on the CJI had happened for the first time. “Bhushan Gavai is from Dalit community and he has achieved his position on his own (merit)," the minister was quoted by PTI.

"I demand that the accused should be booked under the SC/ST Act, since Gavai was attacked because he is a Dalit. No CJI was attacked before this," Athawale added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the incident and also spoke to the CJI after the episode, Athawale noted.

In a shocking and unprecedented incident, Rakesh Kishore attempted to throw his shoe at the Chief Justice of India on Monday, which was condemned across the country.

Soon after the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he spoke with the CJI and added that the attack had angered every Indian.

“Spoke to Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai Ji. The attack on him earlier today in the Supreme Court premises has angered every Indian. There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society. It is utterly condemnable,” he wrote on X.

“I appreciated the calm displayed by Justice Gavai in the face of such a situation. It highlights his commitment to values of justice and strengthening the spirit of our Constitution,” the Prime Minister added.

Meanwhile, Kishore did not show any remorse over the incident and said it was only a reaction to Gavai's continuing stance 'against' Sanatan dharma.

Kishore said his reaction was based on court's order on September 16 on a petition filed for the restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol at Khajuraho temples in Madhya Pradesh.

"A PIL was filed in the court of CJI on September 16.The CJI mocked it and said - go and pray to the idol and tell it to restore its own head. When a matter related to our Sanatan Dharma comes up, the SC passes such orders. Don't provide relief to the petitioner, but don't mock him either. I was hurt. I was not inebriated; this was my reaction to his action. I am not fearful. I don't regret what happened," he said.