JUDGMENT

Dr D Y CHANDRACHUD, J

Leave granted.

2. These proceedings arise from a judgment of the High Court of Gujarat dated 23rd February, 2012 in an application filed by the Appellant challenging the punishment of dismissal imposed upon him upon a disciplinary inquiry. The Division Bench of the Gujarat High Court found that the charges against the Appellant have been established in one (but not the second) of two disciplinary inquiries in respect of his conduct as a judicial officer in the district judiciary. In view of its findings, the High Court declined to interfere with the punishment of dismissal. That has given rise to these proceedings.

3. The Appellant was recruited as a Civil Judge (Junior Division) and Judicial Magistrate in 1981 in the judicial service of the State of Gujarat. He was promoted as a Civil Judge (Senior Division) in 1996. The charges which emanated against him from a chargesheet dated 31st August, 2001 related to his work as a judicial officer when he was posted as Chief Judicial Magistrate at Bhuj from 6th May, 1996 to 15 June 1998. Two criminal ca