The corridors of the Supreme Court recently experienced an unusual security breach when a monkey stole a lunchbox. Footage captured by bystanders shows advocates observing as one of at least two visiting monkeys rummaged through a tote bag, attempting to open the tiffin inside.
Viral Video
Senior Supreme Court Advocate Sanjay Hegde shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), which shows the monkey snatching the bag from a shelf outside a courtroom. After inspecting the contents, it made its way across an arched corridor to sit on a parapet. Many lawyers present on the Tilak Marg premises began recording the monkey’s antics as it tried to extract the lunchbox from the bag, eventually dropping it from the ledge.
The video illustrates the monkey’s struggle to open the box. Social media users shared humorous reactions to the incident, with one remarking, “Was it carrying any brief? Because some lawyers never pass on. They just replace their outer rendering.” Another commented, “Heartening to see the quality of visitors getting better for a change.” A third noted, “Be careful in disseminating this; one group shall come out saying Lord Ram sends his diplomat.” It remains unclear whether the monkey successfully obtained the meal or gave up in frustration.
Watch:
The corridors of the Supreme Court had got some unusual visitors recently pic.twitter.com/nTxLNi8SNQ
— SANJAY HEGDE (@sanjayuvacha) October 5, 2024
This event follows a directive from the Delhi High Court urging the administration to address the “monkey menace” in the city. The court stated, “Civic agencies should carry out a year-long public awareness campaign to inform people how their feeding does not benefit the monkeys but only harms them by increasing their dependence on humans.”
In 2022, the Rhesus macaque, a common species in Delhi, was removed from Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. This change means it no longer enjoys the same level of protection as many endangered species on the list, allowing authorities to manage monkeys similarly to stray cats and dogs.