The shocking incident inside the Supreme Court on Monday, where a 71-year-old lawyer allegedly tried to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai, has left the entire nation stunned. What makes this episode particularly alarming is not only that it occurred in the highest court of the land, but that the accused was himself an officer of the court – a lawyer who had taken an oath to uphold its dignity and decorum. The Supreme Court is not merely a courtroom; it is a temple of justice. Any act of violence or disruption within its precincts amounts to a direct assault on the rule of law. For such a transgression to come from within the legal fraternity-and that too from a 71-year-old seasoned advocate-raises troubling questions about the erosion of values, patience, and professional ethics even among those expected to defend them.
It is true that judicial verdicts cannot satisfy every section of society. Judges are human beings, interpreting laws within constitutional boundaries, and not agents of any ideology or belief system. The disturbing trend of mixing religion with politics, bureaucracy, and now the judiciary is deeply worrisome. Attempts to view judicial pronouncements through communal or ideological lenses not only undermine judicial independence but also endanger the very foundations of democracy. Social media, which once promised to democratise information, has increasingly turned into a Frankenstein’s monster. Its unchecked spread of misinformation and half-truths can radicalise even the educated and otherwise rational minds. The Solicitor General’s observation that the act stemmed from misinformation and a hunger for publicity rings true. The incident should serve as a wake-up call for stricter monitoring of malicious online propaganda targeting judicial institutions.
That the Chief Justice remained calm and composed in the face of such provocation speaks volumes about his dignity and restraint. Yet, the very fact that such an attempt was made inside the apex court demands serious introspection and prompt corrective action. There can be no place for such reckless expressions of anger or ideological intolerance in a civilised society. The entire nation today reaffirms faith in the rule of law and the values that sustain it.
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