BALDEV RAJ CHADHA vs UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that under F.R. Rule 56(j)(i), an officer with 14 years of continuous service and no adverse entries for five years cannot be compulsorily retired based on outdated performance evaluations. The Court found that the Accountant General was not the appropriate authority for the retirement decision, which must be based on relevant and current material. The appeal was allowed, and the compulsory retirement order was quashed as it ignored vital facts and relied on obsolete information.