The Supreme Court dismissed a Christian Army officer’s plea against dismissal, calling his refusal to enter a temple “gross indiscipline” and stressing the importance of unity in the armed forces
New Delhi
The Supreme Court on Tuesday strongly criticized the conduct of former Army officer Samuel Kamalesan, describing his refusal to enter a temple during regimental activities as the “grossest kind of indiscipline.” The court dismissed his plea challenging termination from service, upholding the Army’s decision.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi refused to interfere with the Delhi High Court’s ruling that had earlier supported the Army’s action. The judges said Kamalesan’s behavior was incompatible with military discipline and undermined the unity expected from officers.
“What kind of message has he been sending? He should have been thrown out for this only,” remarked the Chief Justice. The bench stressed that leaders must set examples for their troops and cannot follow personal interpretations of religion while in uniform.
Kamalesan’s lawyer, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, argued that his client was dismissed for a single act of refusal, which he believed violated his Christian faith. He added that the officer had otherwise participated respectfully in multi-faith events.
The court, however, noted that the regiment also maintained a gurdwara for Sikh soldiers, emphasizing that such spaces are secular and meant to unify personnel. Justice Bagchi questioned whether Christian faith explicitly barred entry into temples, pointing out that even a local pastor had advised Kamalesan that entering a “sarva dharma sthal” would not violate his beliefs.
Commissioned in 2017 into the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Kamalesan served as troop leader of the ‘B’ Squadron, comprising Sikh soldiers. The Army said he repeatedly refused to attend mandatory parades despite counseling, weakening unit cohesion.
The Supreme Court concluded that his dismissal was justified, stressing that regimental religious practices serve a secular purpose, fostering unity rather than promoting any single faith.
