Retiring Supreme Court docket Choose Justice Sanjay Karol on Friday mentioned the energy of the judiciary lies in a powerful Bar and urged younger legal professionals to attend court docket recurrently, benefit from each alternative and stay courteous to senior members of the Bar and the Bench.
Talking at his farewell organised by the Supreme Court docket Bar Affiliation (SCBA), Justice Karol mentioned the Bar is the “custodian of the justice supply system” as a result of judges come and go, whereas the Bar stays.
“The stronger the Bar, the stronger the Bench,” he mentioned.
Addressing younger members of the Bar, Justice Karol mentioned legal professionals can not be taught the sensible software and interpretation of legislation solely by finding out provisions in school.
“If you wish to change into a Vidwan, you’ll have to come to the court docket. You’ll have to come to the courtroom. Your actual grooming might be there,” he mentioned, including, “Regardless of how a lot you learn Article 21, Article 14 in school, you’ll by no means know how one can apply the legislation. You’ll by no means know how one can interpret the legislation.”
Justice Karol urged younger legal professionals to make use of each alternative obtainable to them, nonetheless small. “No matter alternative has are available in your method, little bit that it might be, put it to use to the fullest. By no means ever hesitate. However but be courteous, each to the senior members and to the Bench,” he mentioned.
Justice Karol additionally urged senior legal professionals to assist their juniors and “by no means ever let their juniors let down their desires”. He mentioned his follow of appointing younger legal professionals as amici was not an act of favour.
“I didn’t oblige you by appointing amicus. No. It was my constitutional obligation,” he mentioned.
Justice Karol mentioned that other than delivering judgments, he thought of it his constitutional obligation to make sure that the Bar was nurtured and younger legal professionals bought alternatives.
“The largest impediment within the lifetime of a younger member of the Bar is to face on their legs and open up their mouth. That is the most important hurdle. Now we have all undergone that course of,” he famous.
He appreciated younger legal professionals who appeared earlier than him, saying that that they had made helpful submissions and given him insights into new dimensions of instances. “Every one of many youthful members of the Bar have helped, assisted and given their submissions that are completely immaculate. They’ve given me an ideal perception to a completely new dimension,” he mentioned.
Justice Karol additionally emphasised the position of the Bar in sustaining the independence and energy of the judiciary.
“Our energy, judges’ energy lies from the Bar and nowhere else. If in any respect there’s a custodian of the justice supply system, it’s the Bar at no matter degree it might be..Judges come and judges go. It’s the Bar solely who’s right here,” he mentioned.
He recalled an incident involving senior advocate Fali S Nariman for example the position of a powerful Bar. Justice Karol mentioned a decide had as soon as “virtually ridiculed” a party-in-person, following which Nariman stood up and advised the decide that the decide was incorrect and that he would by no means once more enter that courtroom.
Justice Karol mentioned his judicial method was guided by the precept of “broad substantial justice”. “Justice may be very relative, you possibly can’t outline justice. However one method which a minimum of I adopted is, proper or incorrect, I’ll share that with you. And that’s broad substantial justice,” he mentioned.
He mentioned that judges ought to remember the individual behind each case. “As a result of behind the temporary is a standard man. A person who has nice hopes from this establishment, as a result of that is the final and the ultimate court docket the place he can get his voice heard,” Justice Karol mentioned.
On mediation, Justice Karol shared that he had requested that judges be skilled as mediators and introduced that he can be the primary to endure such coaching on August 23, 2026.
Referring to the Samadhan Samaroh initiative, he appreciated Justice PS Narasimha, observing that he had been working exhausting on it.
Justice Karol mentioned that when a litigant is allowed to talk in their very own language, they realise for the primary time that they’ve been “seen” and “heard”.
“A whole lot of unlearning is required to be executed. And I’ve practiced it in court docket. You simply lend voice, lend your ears, to that litigant who involves the court docket,” he mentioned.
Justice Karol additionally spoke about his understanding of the Structure, saying he had tried to differentiate between a Structure that’s “residing” and the necessity to “dwell the Structure”.
He mentioned that judges should journey and perceive the circumstances of individuals to actually dwell the Structure. “It’s a must to really feel the ache, the agony, the sorrow of individuals,” he mentioned, stressing that behind each case is a standard one who has positioned his hopes within the justice system.
Justice Karol additionally urged judges and legal professionals to recollect their duty in the direction of the Supreme Court docket as an establishment.
Referring to the images of former Chief Justices displayed within the Supreme Court docket corridors, he careworn that judges should do not forget that they’re moving into the sneakers of those that had held the workplace earlier than them.
“Each second of ours needs to be such that whether or not inside court docket or outdoors court docket whereas we’re in workplace or after we are out of workplace needs to be such that it brings majesty and dignity to this establishment which is the Supreme Court docket of India,” he mentioned.
Justice Karol thanked the Chief Justice of India, his judicial colleagues, members of the Bar, Registry officers, court docket workers, legislation clerks and his household for his or her assist throughout his tenure.
He additionally sought the forgiveness of members of the Bar and his colleagues for any “excesses” he might have dedicated, knowingly or unknowingly.
Describing the connection between the Bar and Bench as “a symphony”, Justice Karol emphasised that each side should work as stakeholders within the justice supply system.
He shared that he was leaving the Supreme Court docket with a deep sense of contentment and no regrets after three-and-a-half years on the Bench.
