“Judges are not Gods”: Supreme Court Justice Sanjay Karol Retires

Justice Sanjay Karol, who served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India for over three years, retired from office on 22nd August, 2026. A ceremonial bench was held at the Supreme Court to mark his last working day, where members of the Bench and Bar paid tribute to his long judicial career and his contribution to the justice delivery system. 

Background 

Born on August 23, 1961, Justice Karol hails from Garli in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district, recognised as India's first heritage village. He completed his schooling at St. Edward's School, Shimla, before pursuing his Bachelor's degree and LL.B. from Himachal Pradesh University. 

Justice Sanjay Karol enrolled as an advocate on 27th May, 1986. He practised before the Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, Himachal Pradesh High Court, the Company Law Board and subordinate courts in Delhi. His practice covered constitutional, civil, corporate, arbitration, commercial, service and criminal matters, with a particular specialization in civil, corporate and constitutional law.  

From Advocate General to the Himachal Pradesh High Court 

Justice Karol was appointed Advocate General of Himachal Pradesh in 1998, a position he held until 2003. He was designated a Senior Advocate by the Full Court in 1999. 

On 8th March, 2007, he was elevated as a Judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. During his more than eleven-year tenure there, he also served as Acting Chief Justice for over a year. He was associated with the Himachal Pradesh Legal Services Authority as its Patron-in-Chief and served as Chancellor of the Himachal Pradesh National Law University. 

Justice Sanjay Karol subsequently became Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court on 14th November, 2018. During his tenure at the Tripura High Court, he served as Patron-in-Chief of the Tripura Legal Services Authority. 

Justice Sanjay Karol was thereafter transferred to the Patna High Court, where he assumed office as Chief Justice in November 2019. He served there for more than three years and also held the positions of Patron-in-Chief of the Bihar Legal Services Authority and Chancellor of Chanakya National Law University. 

Justice Sanjay Karol's Elevation to the Supreme Court 

Justice Karol was elevated to the Supreme Court on 6th February, 2023. He went on to serve approximately three-and-a-half years at the country's highest court. Among the matters in which Justice Karol participated were cases involving constitutional law, criminal law, access to justice, compensation, personal liberty, arbitration, minority rights and the rights of children. 

Justice Sanjay Karol’s recent judgments included directions aimed at strengthening the legal-aid system and ensuring timely filing of appeals in death penalty cases. In another case concerning a fatal stray-bull attack, the Bench awarded compensation and issued recommendations concerning cattle management and mechanisms for compensating victims of animal attacks. 

He was also part of the Constitution Bench that upheld the constitutional validity of Section 10(a)(i) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, where his opinion examined the limits of relying upon American constitutional jurisprudence while interpreting India's distinct constitutional framework. 

"Judges Are Not Gods" 

At his farewell ceremony, Justice Sanjay Karol reflected on the human dimension of judging. He observed that judges are not infallible and cannot be expected to get every judgment right, but what remains within their control is to see "the person, not just the petition." Justice Sanjay Karol emphasized that the Constitution requires judges not merely to apply the law correctly, but to apply it justly. His farewell remarks thus placed empathy and the human consequences of judicial decisions alongside legal reasoning. 

Justice Karol also spoke about the importance of the Bar, describing it as central to the justice delivery system. Addressing young lawyers, he stressed that practical legal learning comes from the courtroom and encouraged members of the Bar to attend court regularly, learn from senior members and remain courteous to both the Bench and fellow lawyers.  

At another point, Justice Sanjay Karol highlighted the constitutional significance of every functionary in the government machinery, observing that even a constable's whistle and lathi at an intersection carry the voice of the Constitution. He also underlined the permanence of the Bar in contrast to the changing composition of the Bench. 

Closure 

With his retirement, Justice Sanjay Karol brings to a close a judicial career spanning four decades, from his early years at the Bar and service as Advocate General of Himachal Pradesh, through the High Courts of Himachal Pradesh, Tripura and Patna, and finally to the Supreme Court. His journey from Garli to the country's highest court, across advocacy, constitutional office and successive judicial leadership roles, marks a significant chapter in the judicial history of Himachal Pradesh and the Indian judiciary.