Listen to this article:

The attempted assault on Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on October 6, 2025, when advocate Rakesh Kishore hurled a shoe at him while screaming “Sanatan ka apmaan nahi sahenge (We will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan)”, represents more than just a security breach in the Supreme Court. This incident crystallises multiple dangerous trends that assault the constitutional and social fabric of India under the Hindutva ideology of the Modi government. 

Here are five reasons why the act of throwing a shoe at a Dalit CJI in the name of Sanatan goes beyond the insult to higher judiciary and should concern all Indians. 

The assault on the CJI Gavai constitutes the gravest breach of judicial security in independent India’s history. The Supreme Court, described as the “temple of justice,” witnessed its sanctity violated when Kishore removed his sports shoe and attempted to hurl it at Justice Gavai during routine court proceedings.

Justice Gavai’s composure, by maintaining that “these things do not affect me” and directing the court proceedings to continue, cannot mask the institutional damage. This attack strikes at the very foundation of judicial independence, sending a chilling message to judges across the hierarchy that their personal safety cannot be guaranteed even within the highest court’s chambers.

The delayed political response from the ruling establishment revealed telling patterns about those in power at the Centre. Opposition leaders swiftly condemned the attack, with Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi........

© The Wire