Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 25: The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the dismissal of Army officer Samuel Kamalesan, ruling that his refusal to enter a temple’s sanctum sanctorum amounted to disobedience and violated the disciplined and secular character of the Indian Army.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi affirmed the Delhi High Court’s May 2025 order, which upheld Kamalesan’s termination without pension or gratuity. Kamalesan, commissioned in 2017 and posted with a Sikh squadron, had argued that entering the temple violated his Christian faith.

However, the top court came down heavily on him, calling his conduct “the grossest kind of indiscipline” and remarking that he was a “complete misfit for the Army”. The bench observed that by refusing to accompany his soldiers into the temple, the officer had “hurt their sentiments” and failed to lead by example.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the officer, argued that Kamalesan had only objected to entering the sanctum and performing rituals, insisting that the Constitution protected his personal faith. He said the officer was willing to offer flowers from outside and had previously participated at Sarva Dharma Sthals.

But the bench was unconvinced. “Is this kind of cantankerous person acceptable in a disciplined force?” the CJI asked, questioning whether the officer’s action insulted his own soldiers. The court further noted that even after a pastor advised him that entering the temple would not breach his faith, Kamalesan still refused.

“Leaders have to lead by example. You cannot have your own private understanding of religion when you are in uniform,” the bench observed, refusing to interfere with the punishment or reduce the penalty.

The court concluded that the Army’s secular ethos cannot be compromised and that Kamalesan had failed to uphold the discipline expected from an officer of the Indian Army.