A shocking video from a Delhi court campus has brought fresh turmoil to the legal community. The clip shows 71-year-old senior lawyer Rakesh Kishore being attacked by another lawyer, who struck him with a slipper. The assault happened inside the premises of Karkardooma Court. In the video, Kishore is heard chanting “Sunatan Dharma ki Jai” while people around try to break up the fight. Many details remain unclear, including who the attacker is, but the video has stirred widespread outrage.
Kishore came into the limelight just weeks ago, when he attempted to throw a shoe at the then-B. R. Gavai, the then Chief Justice of India (CJI), inside the Supreme Court. Following that act, the Bar Council of India (BCI) suspended his licence.
Rakesh Kishore Was Bitten By Shoes in the Karkardooma Court Complex
The video shows a group of lawyers surrounding Kishore. One man, face unseen, suddenly strikes Kishore with a slipper. Kishore reacts: he waves his hand as if to defend himself. While he tries to speak, appearing to ask why the attack happened, he keeps chanting “Sunatan Dharma ki Jai.” Other lawyers rush in to pull the attacker away and stop further violence.
Rakesh Kishore, the lawyer who had hurled shoe at former CJI Gavai in his court, was assualted in Karkardooma court in Delhi.
He bravely repelled the attack, while chanting “Sanatan Dharm ki Jay Ho”. pic.twitter.com/5ocJXRTCcG
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) December 9, 2025
Court watchers say the incident reflects sharply deteriorating decorum among some members of the legal fraternity. The fact that a senior lawyer was physically assaulted inside the court premises alarms many.
Rakesh Kishore threw Shoe at the CJI
On October 6, 2025, during Supreme Court proceedings, Rakesh Kishore attempted to throw a shoe at then-CJI B. R. Gavai. He later said he had no regrets. He claimed he acted after being hurt by the court’s handling of a religious issue — he alleged the CJI had insulted “Sanatan Dharma.”
The Bar Council of India suspended his licence immediately and revoked his right to plead before any court. The act was deemed a gross breach of professional ethics and the dignity of the court.
Since then, legal debate has raged over the propriety of such protest in court, and the seriousness of threats to judicial dignity and independence.
What This Assault Signals for the Legal Community
- Violence inside court premises: The slipper-attack shows a breakdown of restraint; even inside a court compound, some are willing to resort to physical violence.
- Erosion of trust and decorum: For decades, Indian courts have upheld a tradition of decorum. Incidents like this shake that faith and raise questions about safety for all members of the judiciary and bar.
- Need for stricter oversight: The legal community may demand tighter security during hearings and stricter action against any kind of vigilante reaction.
- Polarisation and public reaction: Given the earlier shoe-throwing incident and surrounding controversy, this assault could lead to further polarisation among lawyers and affect public trust in the justice system.
What Happens Next: Investigation, Ethics, and Fallout
The law enforcement authorities and court administration must now identify the attacker, whose face was not visible in the video, and take legal action. The bar associations must evaluate whether this incident needs disciplinary or even criminal proceedings.
Moreover, this case could push renewed debate on whether court premises must have stricter surveillance, especially during high-tension periods. Lawyers, clerks, and witnesses all deserve a safe, respectful environment.
Meanwhile, the legal fraternity awaits action on both fronts: the earlier shoe-throwing and this violent assault. Both incidents challenge judicial decorum and underscore a growing need for reform, restraint, and adherence to the rule of law.
