New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Karol retired from the apex court bench on Saturday, remarking during his farewell address that judges are not gods and that the act of judging demands deep humility and the ability to look beyond formal legal pleadings to see the human being behind every litigant. Highlighting the ethical dimensions of the judicial role, Justice Karol noted that the Constitution obligates judges not merely to apply the law correctly, but to apply it justly.
On his final working day, Justice Karol shared a ceremonial bench with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana. During the farewell proceedings, senior members of the legal fraternity, including Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Supreme Court Bar Association president Pradeep Rai, commended Justice Karol for his extensive contributions to the administration of justice. CJI Surya Kant lauded him for blending legal rigor with genuine sensitivity toward litigants, noting his reputation for patience, constructive dialogue, and institutional decorum.
Reflecting on his four-decade career in the legal profession—comprising 21 years as an advocate and 19 years on the bench—Justice Karol spoke on the institutional accessibility of the judiciary. He emphasized that while the top court serves as a vital constitutional forum, judicial institutions must remain conscious of marginalized citizens who are unable to reach the courtroom due to financial, geographical, or structural barriers. CJI Kant also highlighted Justice Karol’s administrative efficiency during his earlier tenure as Chief Justice of the High Court of Tripura, where active case management brought overall case pendency down from over 60,000 to under 27,000 matters within ten months.
Concluding his address, Justice Karol expressed gratitude to his colleagues, the Bar, registry staff, and litigants, stating that he demits office with immense satisfaction and returns to what he described as the most distinguished constitutional position: that of an ordinary citizen.
