Disbarred Lawyer Meditates at Khajuraho Temple, Claims He’s Following CJI’s Advice

In an unexpected turn of a national controversy, Rakesh Kishore, the lawyer suspended for throwing a shoe at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, has arrived at the Khajuraho temple complex, stating he is there to meditate and pray following the very direction the judge gave during a court hearing.

Kishore, who was suspended from legal practice immediately after the October 6 incident, told reporters he plans to meditate peacefully before the headless idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari Temple on November 5 and 6. He insists his visit is a spiritual response, not a fresh protest.

“I came here to pray, not to protest,” Kishore stated, clarifying that he has invited other followers to join him peacefully, without banners or demonstrations. He emphasized he is not performing ritual worship, which is prohibited for the broken idol, but will sit in meditation to pray for “strength”.

The Courtroom Incident That Sparked the Journey

Kishore’s actions in Khajuraho are a direct sequel to a September 16 Supreme Court hearing. A bench led by CJI Gavai was dismissing a petition to restore a damaged Vishnu idol at the Javari Temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site in Khajuraho.

During the proceedings, the Chief Justice remarked that the plea was “purely publicity interest litigation” and told the petitioner, “Go and ask the deity himself to do something... If you are a strong devotee, pray and meditate”. This comment, which the CJI later clarified was taken out of context, lit the fuse for Kishore’s outrage.

On October 6, chaos erupted in the Supreme Court’s Courtroom No. 1 as Kishore hurled a shoe toward the Chief Justice. The shoe missed its mark, and security personnel swiftly restrained him as he shouted, “India will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan Dharma”.

CJI Gavai remained notably calm, instructing the court to continue and not be distracted. “These things do not affect me,” he stated. The act was widely condemned, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling it “utterly condemnable”.

Legal Repercussions and a Unrepentant Stance

The Bar Council of India suspended Kishore’s license to practice law with immediate effect, calling his behavior a violation of professional conduct that undermined the dignity of the Supreme Court. The Attorney General has since granted consent to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against him.

Despite the professional and potential legal consequences, Kishore has expressed no remorse. After the incident, he claimed he was guided by a “divine force” and had been unable to sleep since the CJI’s remarks about the deity. He told reporters he was “ready to face jail” for his actions.

A Deeper Conflict: Faith, Law, and Heritage

Kishore’s journey from the courtroom to the temple highlights the ongoing tension between religious sentiment and legal authority in India. The Javari Temple, where the disputed idol resides, is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). This status often restricts active worship and alterations, including the restoration of damaged idols, to preserve historical integrity.

Kishore now argues that the Ancient Monuments Act does not prohibit prayer or meditation, and he aims to campaign for the reattachment of the idol’s head. “If the head is reattached, the symbol of slavery will end,” he said, referencing the idol’s damage by invaders centuries ago.

As the suspended lawyer sits in meditation, his personal quest for redemption continues to mirror the larger national debate he inadvertently sparked—one that sits at the complex intersection of devotion, judicial dignity, and the preservation of history.