Attorney General R Venkataramani has granted his consent to initiate criminal contempt of court action against advocate Rakesh Kishore who attempted to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai on October 6.

The same was revealed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Thursday when Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Vikas Singh mentioned the matter before a Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi.

As per Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, the consent of Attorney General (AG) is required before the Supreme Court can hear a criminal contempt of court petition filed by a private party or individual.

In this case, the SCBA had written to AG Venkataramani to grant consent for contempt action against the lawyer.

Singh today urged the Court to list a criminal contempt of court case tomorrow. 

"This shoe-throwing incident cannot go unnoticed like this. This person (the lawyer who threw the shoe) has no remorse. I have sought consent from the Attorney General and the criminal contempt (case could be) listed tomorrow. Social media has gone berserk," Singh said. 

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta agreed that the incident was a serious one and revealed that the AG has granted consent.

"Consent (for initiating contempt proceedings against the lawyer) has been given. It is the institutional integrity at stake. Some action was needed," Mehta remarked.

Despite being informed that the AG has granted consent, the Bench today brushed aside concern and even said that it would be best to let go of the incident.

"Once we take this up, it will again be spoken about for weeks," Justice Kant pointed out. 

"We have become money-spinning ventures," Justice Bagchi added, referring to how each comment made by the Court is subsequently publicised and monetised on various platforms. 

"Social media works on algorithms and this makes us addicted. We (social media users) are in fact the products, it's not that we are using it," SG Mehta said. 

"Algorithms are so designed that they work on hate, caste, anger, etc. So it gets more hits, likes. Your mentioning today will only be monetised. We do not have to cooperate on this monetisation and let it die a natural death," Justice Bagchi replied. 

"The angst of the Bar is because of the attack on the institution," Singh added. 

"We understand your concern and respect it," Justice Kant replied. 

"Please list the criminal contempt tomorrow," Singh then urged. 

"Let us see what happens in a week and read more saleable items," Justice Kant said, in turn.

The Court eventually did not list the matter for hearing tomorrow.

"After the vacation maybe, some other saleable items will come up," Justice Bagchi added, before the Court moved on to the next matter.

The incident occurred on October 6, when Rakesh Kishore, whose lawyer's license has since been suspended by the Bar Council of India, threw a shoe in the Supreme Court towards the dais where CJI Gavai was sitting with Justice Vinod Chandran. 

The attack was tied to CJI Gavai's comments in a previous case related to the restoration of a 7-foot beheaded idol of Lord Vishnu at Khajuraho. While dismissing that case, he had suggested that the litigant "go and ask the deity" for a solution. 

The comment drew backlash, with several quarters terming the same as offensive to Hindu sentiments.

Further, CJI Gavai, while touring Mauritius, had made comments against bulldozer demolitions in India and spoke of how the Court had passed an order staying the same. While speaking to the media, Kishore also criticised the CJI's comments on this issue.

Read more about today's hearing here.