US EditionWhy Supreme Court Upheld Dismissal of a Christian Army Officer for Refusing to Enter Gurdwara
The Supreme Court ruled Kamalesan's refusal to perform religious rituals harmed troop morale and unit cohesion, emphasizing military discipline over individual religious exemptions.
- On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India dismissed Lieutenant Samuel Kamalesan's petition, refusing to overturn the Delhi High Court's May order upholding his 2021 dismissal.
- The case stems from his refusal to enter the inner sanctum of the regiment's temple and gurdwara during weekly regimental parades while posted with a Sikh squadron, leading to his termination for disobeying a lawful command despite seeking a faith-based exemption.
- The bench sharply criticised his conduct, noting Chief Justice Surya Kant called Kamalesan a `cantankerous man` and a `misfit` for the Army while referencing a pastor who said the regimental religious space lacked a sarv dharm sthal.
- The court concluded the Supreme Court bench held he failed to respect fellow Sikh soldiers' religious beliefs and rejected that religious freedom permits disobeying lawful orders.
- The Army said Kamalesan refused to change his stance despite counselling by Army senior officers and Christian clergy, reaffirming that military discipline requires unquestioned adherence to orders, especially where unit cohesion is at stake.
19 Articles
19 Articles
"You Have Hurt The Feelings Of The Soldiers" - Supreme Court Upholds Dismissal Of Christian Army Officer Who Refused To Enter Regiment’s Temple, Gurdwara
The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the dismissal of Lieutenant Samuel Kamalesan, a Christian Army officer who refused to enter the inner sanctum of his regiment’s temple and gurdwara during mandatory parades. The Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymala Bagchi took a stern view of his conduct, questioning whether such refusal did not amount to hurting the religious sentiments of the soldiers under his command. “If th…
Why Supreme Court upheld dismissal of a Christian Army officer for refusing to enter gurdwara
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (November 25) upheld the termination of a Christian officer from the Indian Army in 2021 after he objected to taking part in religious rituals at his regiment's temple and gurdwara. Refusing to interfere with the Delhi High Court’s May order that backed Lieutenant Samuel Kamalesan’s dismissal, the apex court labelled him a ‘cantankerous man’ and a ‘misfit’. Here’s why
‘Definitely a misfit’: Supreme Court upholds dismissal of Christian Army officer for refusal to enter Sarva Dharma Sthal
In May, the Delhi High Court upheld Samel Kamalesan’s termination, saying that keeping religion above a lawful command from a superior was “clearly an act of discipline”.
SC rejects Christian officer's appeal against termination of service from Army
New Delhi: Describing the act as the “grossest kind of indiscipline”, the Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a former Christian officer’s plea challenging his termination from the armed forces, after he allegedly refused to participate in regimental religious activities at the sanctum sanctorum of a temple at a place of his posting. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi refused to interfere with a Delhi High Cou…
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