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The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Monday ordered the immediate suspension from practice of Delhi-based advocate Rakesh Kishore after prima facie material indicated that he allegedly removed his sports shoes and attempted to hurl them towards the Chief Justice of India during proceedings in Court No 1 of the Supreme Court at about 11:35 am.
The interim order signed by Manan Kumar Mishra, Senior Advocate and Chairman, BCI invokes the Advocates Act, 1961 and Chapter II (Part VI) of the Bar Council of India Rules, specifically Section I, Rules 1, 2 and 3, which require advocates to maintain dignity and self-respect in court, show respect to the judiciary, and refrain from improper means that may influence proceedings. With immediate effect, the BCI has debarred Kishore from appearing, acting, pleading or practising before any court, tribunal or authority in India. The order also declares that any identity card, proximity pass or access permission issued by any court or Bar Association shall remain inoperative during the suspension. The BCI has directed the Bar Council of Delhi to ensure immediate compliance by updating the advocate's status on its rolls and notifying all courts and tribunals within its jurisdiction about the suspension. The Registry of the Supreme Court of India, the Registries of all High Courts, and all District Courts have been instructed to circulate the order to filing and appearance counters and to the concerned Bar Associations, including the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). Calling the measure interim, the BCI said disciplinary proceedings will be initiated in accordance with the law. A show cause notice will be issued to Kishore to explain, within 15 days of service, why the suspension should not continue and why further orders should not be passed. In parallel, the order mandates procedural compliance; the Bar Council of Delhi must serve the order at the advocate's enrolled address and registered email and file a compliance report with the BCI within two days of receiving the order. Within 48 hours of such service, Kishore must file an affidavit of compliance physically with both the BCI and the Bar Council of Delhi, and email a notarised scanned copy to bciinfo21@gmail.com, confirming that he is not appearing in any matter during the suspension. The BCI notes that, on the face of the record, the alleged conduct--removing sports shoes and attempting to hurl them towards the Chief Justice before being detained by security--is inconsistent with professional standards and the dignity of the court as embodied in the Advocates Act and BCI Rules. Reiterating that the order is without prejudice to any proceedings under the general law or under the Advocates Act, the BCI underscored that respect for the court and judicial decorum is a non-negotiable element of legal practice. (ANI)
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