Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, addressing the ceremonial bench held in honour of Justice Sanjay Karol on August 22, 2026, recalled his long professional association with the retiring judge and praised his patience, empathy, judicial sensitivity and administrative leadership.
CJI Surya Kant said he had known Justice Karol from his days at the Bar, through their time as Advocate Generals and colleagues in Himachal Pradesh, and eventually as colleagues on the Bench. He said what struck him most was not merely Justice Karol’s career but the affection with which it was remembered by the Bar.
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“The Bar remembers Justice Karol not simply for the judgments, but for his patience, courtesy, willingness to listen, and sense of reassurance that accompanied his courtroom presence. That, perhaps, is one of the finest tributes that can be paid to anyone who has occupied judicial office. ”
The CJI highlighted Justice Karol’s attention to aspects of social life that can sometimes remain invisible in legal discourse, including the unpaid labour of homemakers, the dignity of tribal women and the needs of persons living with mental illness.
Recalling his tenure as Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court, CJI Surya Kant noted that Justice Karol reduced pendency from over 60,000 cases to under 27,000 within ten months through disciplined listing, sustained docket attention and by taking on some of the heaviest boards himself.
The CJI also recalled Justice Karol’s tenure at the Patna High Court, where he led one of the country’s heavily burdened High Courts for over three years, including during the pandemic. As Patron-in-Chief of the Bihar State Legal Services Authority, he was credited with getting the State Mental Health Authority established and continuing to focus on people whose difficulties rarely reach the justice delivery system.
CJI Surya Kant said Justice Karol’s lasting contribution went beyond his judgments and administrative record, describing it instead through his approach to judicial office.
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“The more lasting contribution lies in the manner in which he has approached each responsibility: with seriousness towards the law, sensitivity towards people, and an unshakeable regard for the office he serves.”
As Justice Karol retires, the CJI said his colleagues would miss his presence on the Bench, particularly his “calmness in difficult moments” and the warmth he brought to those around him.
Also read: A Common Man’s Judge: The Lasting Footprint of Justice Sanjay Karol