India, Oct. 28 -- The Supreme Court on Monday expressed reluctance to initiate contempt proceedings against 71-year-old lawyer Rakesh Kishore, who attempted to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai earlier this month, questioning whether it would be proper for another bench to act when the CJI, "in his glorious magnanimity," had already decided to let the matter rest.

"There is no doubt that the act was contemptuous on the face of it. The manner in which he acted cannot be pardoned. The subsequent acts aggravated his contempt. The only issue is that when the CJI has himself pardoned him, should we now initiate any action?" a bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi asked.

While Kishore's conduct was contemptuous ...