CJI BR Gavai
NEW DELHI: A shoe was hurled towards Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai on Monday, allegedly in protest against his recent “go ask your deity” remark made while hearing a plea seeking reconstruction of a Lord Vishnu idol in Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho.An advocate, who was heard shouting slogans, was quickly escorted out of the courtroom by security personnel. The incident caused a brief interruption for a few minutes in proceedings before the session resumed, reported Live Law.According to lawyers present, the individual shouted, “Sanatan Dharam ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan” (“India will not tolerate disrespect towards Sanatan Dharma”) while being removed from the courtroom. Some witnesses claimed he tried to throw a shoe, while others said he appeared to be hurling a roll of paper. The man was reportedly dressed in a lawyer’s robe.Reacting to the incident, CJI Gavai said: “Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me.”Terming it a “publicity interest litigation”, the Supreme Court last month dismissed a plea seeking directions to reconstruct and reinstall a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari Temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Khajuraho temple complex in MP. A bench headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran refused to entertain the plea filed by one Rakesh Dalal, who sought the replacement and consecration of the damaged idol at the Javari Temple in Chhatarpur district.”This is purely publicity interest litigation… Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation,” the CJI said.The petitioner’s counsel said the idol’s head was dilapidated & urged SC to intervene to allow its reconstruction.SC said the issue squarely fell under Archaeological Survey of India’s jurisdiction . “It’s an archaeological find, whether ASI would permit such a thing to be done or not… there are various issues,” CJI said.The CJI added, “In the meantime, if you are not averse to Shaivism, you can go and worship there… there is a very big linga of Shiva, one of the biggest in Khajuraho.”
