Who is Justice Sanjay Karol? Retired Supreme Court judge who said ‘Judges not gods...’ in his viral farewell speech

Justice Sanjay Karol, a retired Supreme Court judge, delivered a farewell speech on August 22, 2023, where he emphasized the importance of humility and seeing the person behind every litigant. According to the PTI, Karol stated that judges are not gods and will not always get judgments right. He explained that judging requires a certain level of humility and the ability to understand the real person behind a petition, as a petition only reveals the facts of a case, not the person's losses or hopes.

Throughout his career, Karol practiced across various courts and served as advocate general of Himachal Pradesh from 1998 to 2003. He was appointed as a judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 2007 and subsequently became chief justice of the Tripura High Court in 2018. In 2023, he was elevated to the Supreme Court.

In his farewell address, Karol reflected on his four-decade-long journey in the legal profession. He emphasized the courtroom's role as a vehicle for something greater than himself and highlighted the importance of listening beyond spoken arguments, including understanding the silent prayers in the courtroom. Karol also discussed the symbolism of the Supreme Court's bench, which appears to be six feet above the ground, signifying responsibility, dignity, and honesty.

He concluded by returning to the role of an ordinary citizen, stating that the greatness of the Constitution is tested not only in great cases but also in ordinary conduct.