In a shocking incident, a sheaf of papers were flung at a Supreme Court Bench of Chief Justice of India and Justice K. Vinod Chandran on Monday by a person present in the courtroom.

The incident occurred while the Bench was in the process of hearing oral mentionings listed before it.

The day started as usual, though an hour later than usual court hours at 11.30 a.m. The court had reopened after a week-long holiday, and many urgent cases had been lined up for hearing.

The offending papers flew in from the left side of the Bench while the Judges were turned to their right, hearing advocate Shivam Singh mention his case for an urgent listing.

The CJI and Justice Chandran made an initial exclamation of surprise, but quickly collected themselves to urge Mr. Singh to continue his mentioning.

“Do not pay attention to such things. Please carry on,” Chief Justice Gavai addressed Mr. Singh, who hesitatingly resumed his oral submissions.

By this time security personnel had come forward to escort the individual who threw the papers at the Bench out of the court room. The person was heard by lawyers present in the court room shouting slogans about ‘Sanatan’.

The CJI told the distracted lawyers gathered in the court room to focus on the proceedings. “If we are not perturbed, why are you?” the CJI asked them.

In 2009, a woman had thrown a slipper at Justice Arijit Pasayat (now retired) during the hearing of a contempt case. The object missed the judge, who had ducked in time. The woman was taken into custody.