New Delhi — A serious incident recently occurred at the country’s highest judicial institution, the Supreme Court, where an attempt was made to attack Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Gavai. This incident has not only raised questions about the security of the judiciary but has also increased concerns about law and order across the nation.

On Monday, a lawyer attempted to attack CJI B.R. Gavai in the Supreme Court. The incident took place while the CJI’s bench was hearing a case. According to reports from lawyers present in the courtroom, the lawyer threw a shoe toward the CJI.

However, the shoe did not reach the bench. Security personnel immediately apprehended the individual. While being taken out, the lawyer shouted a slogan: “India will not tolerate insults to Sanatan.” After the incident, the CJI asked the lawyers present in the court to continue with their arguments. He stated, “Do not be disturbed by all this. I am not disturbed either; such things do not affect me.”

On September 16, CJI had said: “Go, ask God to do it himself”

According to reports, the accused lawyer is named Rakesh Kishore Kumar. He has been registered with the Supreme Court Bar since 2011. It is believed that the lawyer was upset with CJI Gavai’s comments regarding the restoration of a 7-foot headless statue of Lord Vishnu in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.

On September 16, while dismissing a petition demanding the restoration of the broken statue, the CJI had said: “Go and ask God to do it himself. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, go and pray to him.”

Here’s what the case involving Lord Vishnu’s statue is about

On September 16, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition demanding the restoration of the 7-foot broken statue of Lord Vishnu at the Javari (Vaman) Temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. The petitioner had expressed dissatisfaction with this decision.

They stated that this decision hurts their religious sentiments. The court ruled that the statue would remain in its current condition. If devotees wish to worship, they can visit other temples.

Essentially, the petitioner claimed that the statue was damaged during Mughal invasions and has remained in this condition ever since. Therefore, they argued that the Supreme Court should intervene to protect devotees’ right to worship and to revive the temple’s sanctity.

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial body in the United States, established in 1789 by Article III of the U.S. Constitution. It is the final arbiter of federal law and the Constitution, with its landmark decisions shaping American civil rights and governance. The Court moved to its iconic building in Washington, D.C. in 1935, symbolizing its equal status among the three branches of government.

New Delhi

New Delhi is the capital of India, officially inaugurated in 1931 to replace Calcutta as the seat of the British Raj. It was designed by architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, featuring wide, tree-lined boulevards and grand government buildings. Today, it serves as the political center of India, housing key national institutions like the Parliament and Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Khajuraho

Khajuraho is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in India, renowned for its group of Hindu and Jain temples built between 950 and 1050 CE by the Chandela dynasty. The site is most famous for its intricate and exquisite Nagara-style architecture and its extensive, artistically significant erotic sculptures. While these sculptures have drawn global attention, they are part of a larger narrative depicting all aspects of life, spirituality, and the pursuit of enlightenment in medieval India.

Javari (Vaman) Temple

The Javari Temple, also known as the Vaman Temple, is a 12th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vamana, the dwarf avatar of Vishnu. Located in Khajuraho, India, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Khajuraho Group of Monuments. The temple is celebrated for its intricate Nagara-style architecture and exquisite stone carvings depicting deities and celestial beings.

Lord Vishnu statue

The Lord Vishnu statue is a significant religious sculpture in Hinduism, typically depicting the preserver and protector god of the Hindu trinity. Historically, such statues have been created for millennia across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, often found in temples like the ancient Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala or the Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia. These statues serve as focal points for worship and symbolize divine qualities like protection, mercy, and cosmic order.

Mughal invasions

The Mughal invasions refer to a series of conquests initiated by Central Asian rulers, primarily Babur, who founded the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent. Beginning in the early 16th century, these invasions led to the establishment of one of the most powerful and culturally rich empires in South Asian history, renowned for its architectural achievements and administrative systems.

Sanatan

“Sanatan” is not a specific place or cultural site, but a Sanskrit term meaning “eternal” or “ageless,” often used to describe the eternal nature of Hindu dharma (Sanatana Dharma). It broadly refers to the timeless, foundational principles and spiritual traditions of Hinduism. Therefore, it does not have a single history or location, but represents the philosophical and cultural continuity of Hindu traditions over millennia.

Supreme Court Bar

The Supreme Court Bar refers to the collective body of lawyers who are licensed to practice before the highest court in a nation, such as the Supreme Court of the United States. Admission is a prestigious honor, often requiring a separate application and a proven record of legal practice, and its members are responsible for arguing the most significant cases that shape national law.