Hon'ble Mr. Justice K. G. Balakrishnan was born on May 12, 1945, at Thalayalaparambu in Travancore, at Kottayam district in Kerela in a poor Dalit family. For his education, he went to a government school, later took his B. L. degree and enrolled himself in Kerala Bar Council, thereafter he completed his LL.M. in 1971.

As an advocate, he pleaded both Criminal and Civil cases at Ernakulum court and was appointed as Munsif through Kerala Judicial Services in 1973. He, however, resigned from there and resumed practice as an advocate of the Kerela High Court. In 1985, he was appointed the judge of the Kerela High Court and was transferred to Gujarat High Court in 1997. Subsequently, he became Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court in 1998. In 1999, he assumed the charge as Chief Justice of High Court of Judicature of Madras. While discharging his duties, he also acted as the Governor of Gujarat for about two months. On 8th June 2000, he was appointed Judge of Supreme Court and was finally sworn-in as Chief-Justice of India on 14th of January 2007.

He pronounced several rulings like controversial judgment asking the political parties which impose "Hartals" on the public and some other significant judgements.