Single adverse remark or doubtful integrity enough to retire judge: Gujarat HC

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court has said that even a single adverse remark in a judge's service record, or any doubt about their integrity, may be sufficient grounds for compulsory retirement. It also clarified that issuing a show-cause notice was not necessary, as compulsory retirement in the public interest does not amount to punishment. A bench of Justice A S Supehia and Justice L S Pirzada stated in its order, "A single uncommunicated adverse remark in the entire service record, or a doubtful integrity, is enough to retire a judicial officer compulsorily in the public interest. Any promotion or grant of a higher pay scale/selection grade cannot affect the order of compulsory retirement." The case involved ad-hoc sessions judge J K Acharya, who was compulsorily retired along with