The judiciary is an institution founded on honesty and integrity, the Supreme Court has said, reasserting that it is necessary judicial officers possess the “sterling quality of integrity” to be able to serve the public.

It made the observation while refusing to show any leniency to a Maharashtra-based judicial magistrate, who had challenged his 2004 dismissal from service following allegation he passed orders in favour of the clients of a woman lawyer he had a “proximate relationship”.

Impeccable integrity should be reflected both in the public and personal life of a judge, the top court said, and added judicial officers must always remember they hold high office and serve the public. A bench of justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose said the petitioner did not live up to the “expectations of integrity, behaviour and probity” and no leniency can be shown to him.