Bar Bench Boundaries Breached: SCBA Revokes Lawyer Rakesh Kishore’s Membership Over Disrespecting CJI
(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
Delhi, October,9,2025- In a decisive move underscoring the sanctity of judicial decorum, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has terminated the temporary membership of Advocate Rakesh Kishore with immediate effect, following his alleged act of hurling a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai’s bench, where Justice B.R. Gavai was presiding on October 06.
“The Executive Committee has taken serious note of the grave misconduct committed by Advocate Mr. Rakesh Kishore, a temporary member of the SCBA and registered with the Bar Council of Delhi bearing Enrolment No. D/1647/2009 dated 07.08.2009, inside the courtroom of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Justice B.R. Gavai, on 6th October, 2025;”
The SCBA’s Executive Committee convened an emergency session and unanimously passed a resolution condemning the incident as “grave professional misconduct” and “an affront to the dignity of the highest judicial office.” The resolution emphasized that such behaviour not only violates the ethical standards expected of legal practitioners but also scandalizes the institution of the judiciary.
“The Executive Committee, having duly deliberated upon the incident and the gravity of such misconduct, is of the considered view that continuation of Mr. Rakesh Kishore as a temporary member of the SCBA would be wholly inconsistent with the dignity and discipline expected of the members of this Association;”
Prior to the SCBA’s action, both the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) and the SCBA had issued strong public statements denouncing the incident, characterizing it as a direct attempt to undermine the authority and decorum of the Chief Justice’s court.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) also responded swiftly, issuing an interim suspension order against Advocate Kishore, pending further disciplinary proceedings. The Council noted that the act constituted a serious breach of professional conduct and warranted immediate intervention to uphold the integrity of the legal profession.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum, with several senior leaders and the Prime Minister himself expressing dismay over the lawyer’s conduct. Legal experts have called for introspection within the Bar and emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of disciplinary norms to prevent such transgressions in the future.
This episode has reignited discussions around the responsibilities of legal professionals in maintaining courtroom decorum and the mechanisms available to safeguard the dignity of judicial institutions.
[Read the Resolution]
