Stating that even a “single uncommunicated adverse remark” in a service record or “doubtful integrity” is enough to retire a judicial officer in public interest, the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by former ad-hoc sessions judge J K Acharya, who was among the 18 judges made to compulsorily retire in November 2016.

Acharya was serving as ad-hoc Additional District Judge at Nadiad in Kheda. He had challenged a July 18, 2016 notification of the state’s Legal department of Gujarat, which was based on a report of a committee of three High Court judges constituted to scrutinise the performance and evaluation of the judicial officers.

A division bench of Justice AS Supehia and Justice LS Pirzada, in its order of Tuesday, said, “An order of compulsory/premature retireme

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