The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association hosted a ceremonial farewell on Wednesday for Justice Sanjay Karol, who will demit office on August 22, 2026, after a three-and-a-half-year tenure at the apex court.
In his address, Chief Justice Justice Surya Kant lauded Justice Karol for his commitment to accessibility and institutional dignity, noting that the Bench loses an officer who combined administrative reform with a human approach to litigation.
The CJI underlined the need to preserve the collegial traditions of the court as more vacancies await filling, and urged the Bar to partner with the Bench in reducing pendency without compromising quality.
CJI Surya Kant said Justice Karol traced his motto to the trial court and district level. During his tenure as Chief Justice of Tripura, pendency was reduced by more than half, and at Patna he delivered a landmark ruling recognizing access to clean toilets as a fundamental right.
He often spoke of “wiping the tears of litigants especially the poor ones” through reconciliation and legal aid clinics at the panchayat level.
The CJI said that on the intersection of technology and judging, Justice Karol cautioned that true adjudication rests on “thinking, thinking, thinking” rooted in the Constitution, and urged students to treat case files as human stories, not mere data.
The CJI, in his closing remarks, said the institution would miss a judge who insisted that the Constitution is a living document meant to be practiced daily, not just cited.
Responding to the felicitations, Justice Karol spoke with characteristic directness about the role of lawyers and citizens. Referring to popular portrayals of the judiciary, he told young advocates:“Have you seen the picture Oh My God? The way movies ridicule the judiciary! They say vakalat dukaan hai. Aisa bilkul nahi hai… Be alive. And live the Constitution is all I can say.”
He reminded the fraternity that law is a service, not merely a career.“You are entering a profession which demands service to society. There is no dearth of money. You are your own competitor.”
Speakers at the SCAORA event recalled his administrative innovations and his emphasis on compassion. As the court rose, members of the Bar gave Justice Karol a standing ovation, marking the end of a judicial innings that spanned over two decades on the Bench.
Born on August 23, 1961 in Shimla, Justice Karol enrolled in 1983 and served as Advocate General of Himachal Pradesh from 1998 to 2003 before his elevation in 2007.
Elevated on February 6, 2023, Justice Karol had earlier served as Chief Justice of the Patna and Tripura High Courts, and as Acting Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh.
The gathering brought together sitting and former judges, senior advocates, and members of the Bar to pay tribute to Justice Karol’s journey from the Himachal Pradesh High Court to the Supreme Court.
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