UNION OF INDIA . vs HARJEET SINGH SANDHU — C.A. No. 2721/2001

Summary: Union of India v. Harjeet Singh Sandhu & Harminder Kumar (2001) The Supreme Court held that the expiry of the three-year limitation period under Section 122 of the Army Act for court-martial trials does not automatically bar the Army from terminating an officer's service under Section 19 read with Rule 14. The Court rejected the narrow interpretation from *Major Radha Krishan* case, holding that "impracticable" encompasses situations where court-martial proceedings become legally impossible, and the Chief of the Army Staff may invoke administrative termination powers even after limitation periods expire—subject to judicial review for mala fides, abuse of power, or irrelevant considerations. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.