CJI Surya Kant lauds Justice Sanjay Karol's empathy, leadership on farewell

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant lauded Justice Sanjay Karol's distinguished career on the judge's final day in office. Speaking from a ceremonial bench, CJI Kant described Justice Karol as a judge marked by "seriousness towards the law, sensitivity towards people and an unshakeable regard for the office he serves." He recalled a long professional association, first as a member of the Bar, then as a fellow advocate general, and later as a colleague in Himachal Pradesh and finally as a Supreme Court judge. The CJI emphasized the affection with which Justice Karol's career was remembered, noting that the Bar valued his "patience, courtesy, willingness to listen, and sense of reassurance." This quality, the CJI suggested, informed Justice Karol's distinctive judicial work. He highlighted Justice Karol's repeated attention to "unpaid labour of a homemaker, the dignity of a tribal woman, or the needs of those living with mental illness," giving "legal visibility to such overlooked realities." Justice Karol's administrative contributions were also praised. As chief justice of the Tripura High Court, he reduced case pendency significantly within 10 months. Later, he led the heavily burdened Patna High Court for over three years, navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. As Patron-in-Chief of the Bihar State Legal Services Authority, he also helped establish the State Mental Health Authority, continuing his focus on those often outside the justice system's reach. Justice Karol, in his farewell address, reflected on his four decades in courtrooms, emphasizing the importance of understanding the unspoken needs of litigants in the "eloquent silences" of the courtroom.

“

seriousness towards the law, sensitivity towards people and an unshakeable regard for the office he serves