Bilaspur: Justice Sanjay S. Agrawal of the High Court of Chhattisgarh will demit office on August 20, 2026, bringing to a close a distinguished legal and judicial career spanning nearly four decades. From his early years as a teacher and advocate in Bilaspur to his elevation to the High Court Bench, Justice Agrawal’s professional journey has remained closely connected with the legal and judicial institutions of Chhattisgarh.
Born on August 21, 1964, in Bilaspur, Justice Agrawal completed his schooling and graduation in the city before obtaining his LL.B. from Kaushalendra Rao Law College, Bilaspur. His academic background included a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, an education that complemented the analytical approach required in legal practice.
A Family with Deep Legal and Academic Roots
Justice Agrawal comes from a family with a strong academic and legal background. His father, Late Shri Shyam Bihari Agrawal, was a retired Professor in the Department of Zoology, while his mother was a homemaker. His grandfather was a well-known civil lawyer in Bilaspur, establishing an early connection between the family and the legal profession.
His uncle, Senior Advocate Ravish Chandra Agrawal, also played a significant role in his professional journey. Ravish Chandra Agrawal has served as Advocate General of Chhattisgarh and is currently the Advocate General of Madhya Pradesh.
Under his uncle’s guidance, Justice Sanjay S. Agrawal entered the legal profession after enrolling as an advocate.
From Teaching to Legal Practice
Before taking up law as a full-time profession, Justice Agrawal worked as an Upper Division Teacher from 1986 to 1989.
He enrolled as an advocate on September 7, 1989, and began practising under the guidance of Senior Advocate Ravish Chandra Agrawal. His initial practice was at the District Court in Bilaspur, where he worked from 1989 until January 1997.
He then practised before the High Court of Madhya Pradesh from 1997 to 2000. Following the creation of Chhattisgarh and establishment of the High Court of Chhattisgarh in Bilaspur in 2000, he continued his practice before the new High Court until his elevation to the Bench in 2016.
His practice covered civil, criminal and constitutional law, with civil law being his principal area of specialisation. He also served as a Government Advocate while practising before the High Court, a responsibility he continued until 2007.
Elevation to the High Court Bench
After nearly 27 years at the Bar, Justice Agrawal was elevated as a Judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh on September 29, 2016. He took oath as a Permanent Judge on January 8, 2018.
His elevation marked a significant transition from representing litigants before the courts to exercising the constitutional responsibility of adjudication.
His extensive experience in trial courts, High Court litigation and government representation provided him with exposure to a wide range of legal issues. During his tenure on the Bench, he dealt with civil revisions, criminal appeals, writ petitions and other matters assigned to his court.
Nearly a Decade of Judicial Service
Justice Agrawal’s judicial tenure has encompassed a broad spectrum of disputes and legal questions. The High Court’s rosters reflect his involvement in civil, criminal and constitutional matters, including long-pending cases and matters raising significant questions of law.
According to figures available on the High Court of Chhattisgarh website, Justice Agrawal has delivered approximately 10,000 orders and judgments, with 1,178 judgments approved for publication.
The volume of decisions reflects the scale of his judicial work. However, the lasting contribution of a judge is ultimately measured not only by the number of cases decided but also by the legal principles established, statutory provisions interpreted and impact of those decisions on the administration and development of law.
The High Court’s searchable database of orders and judgments provides access to his published judicial work for lawyers, researchers and members of the public.
A Career Closely Linked to Bilaspur
Bilaspur has remained a defining part of Justice Agrawal’s professional journey. He was born and educated in the city, began his legal career at the Bilaspur District Court and later became part of the legal community of the High Court of Chhattisgarh after its establishment.
The High Court of Chhattisgarh was established on November 1, 2000, following the creation of the State of Chhattisgarh under the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000. Justice Agrawal’s career therefore coincided with an important phase in the development of the State’s independent judicial identity.
Key Milestones
- 1986–1989: Worked as an Upper Division Teacher.
- September 7, 1989: Enrolled as an Advocate.
- 1989–January 1997: Practised before the District Court, Bilaspur.
- 1997–2000: Practised before the High Court of Madhya Pradesh.
- 2000–2016: Practised before the High Court of Chhattisgarh.
- Until 2007: Served as Government Advocate.
- September 29, 2016: Elevated as a Judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh.
- January 8, 2018: Took oath as a Permanent Judge.
- August 20, 2026: Demits office as a High Court Judge.
A Four-Decade Legal Journey
Justice Sanjay S. Agrawal’s retirement marks the conclusion of a professional journey that began in Bilaspur and extended through the District Court, the High Court Bar and ultimately the High Court Bench.
From his enrolment as an advocate in 1989 to his retirement in 2026, his career has encompassed almost four decades of engagement with law and the justice system. His experience as a teacher, trial court lawyer, High Court practitioner, Government Advocate and judge reflects a progression through several important stages of the legal profession.
The judgments delivered during his tenure will remain part of the legal record and may continue to be examined by lawyers, courts and researchers in years to come.
For the legal fraternity of Chhattisgarh, August 20, 2026, therefore marks more than the retirement of a High Court judge. It marks the close of a long professional chapter rooted in Bilaspur and shaped by decades of service to the legal and judicial system.