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Describing the enactment arsenic the "grossest benignant of indiscipline", the Supreme Court connected Tuesday (November 25, 2025) dismissed a erstwhile Christian officer's plea challenging his termination from the equipped forces, aft helium allegedly refused to enactment successful regimental spiritual activities astatine the sanctum sanctorum of a temple astatine a spot of his posting.
A seat comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi refused to interfere with a Delhi High Court determination that had upheld the Army's action, saying Samuel Kamalesan's behaviour was incompatible with subject discipline.
"What benignant of connection has helium been sending? He should person been thrown retired for this only. This is the grossest benignant of indiscipline by an Army official," the CJI said.
"Leaders person to pb by example. You are insulting your troops," the seat said, adding, "When a pastor counselled you, you permission it astatine that. You cannot person your backstage knowing of what your religion permits. That excessively successful uniform."
‘Violated his Christian faith’: Senior Advocate
Appearing successful the tribunal for Mr. Kamalesan, elder advocator Gopal Sankaranarayanan said his lawsuit was dismissed from work for a azygous enactment of refusal to participate the innermost sanctum of a temple astatine the spot of his posting, saying it violated his Christian faith. He maintained that the serviceman had different participated respectfully successful each multi-faith spaces and regimental events.
"Is this benignant of cantankerous behaviour permissible successful a disciplined force?" the CJI asked, adding arsenic to however a unit person would garbage to travel his soldiers into a spot they considered sacred.
The seat besides noted that the regiment besides maintained a gurdwara, fixed the beingness of Sikh soldiers.
"A gurdwara is 1 of the astir secular places.... The mode successful which helium is behaving, is helium not insulting different religions?" the CJI asked.
The elder lawyer said the appellant's cardinal close to practise a religion nether Article 25 of the Constitution cannot beryllium taken distant conscionable due to the fact that helium has donned the uniform.
"Article 25 protects indispensable spiritual features, not each sentiment.... Where successful the Christian religion is entering a temple barred?" Justice Bagchi asked.
‘Failed to respect sentiments of ain soldiers’: CJI
The seat pointed retired that the serviceman had ignored adjacent the proposal of a section pastor, who reportedly said entering a "sarva dharma sthal" would not interruption the Christian faith.
"You whitethorn beryllium outstanding successful 100 things, but the Indian Army is known for its secular approach.... You person failed to respect the sentiments of your ain soldiers," the CJI said, successful effect to the submission that the punishment of dismissal from work whitethorn beryllium done distant with.
When the appellant's counsel said not issuing a announcement would beryllium a incorrect connection for the society, the seat said, "This volition nonstop a beardown message."
Refrained from entering sanctum
Commissioned successful 2017 into the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Mr. Kamalesan was posted arsenic the unit person of the 'B' Squadron, comprising Sikh personnel.
The regiment maintained a temple and a gurdwara, but not a "sarva dharma sthal" oregon a church.
Mr. Kamalesan had claimed that helium had accompanied troops to some places for play spiritual parades but refrained from entering the sanctum during "aarti, havan oregon puja", citing spiritual conscience.
The Army had said the serviceman repeatedly refused to be mandatory regimental parades and elder officers made "multiple attempts" to counsel him connected the value of regimentation.
However, helium refused and this weakened portion cohesion, a captious request for operational effectiveness, the Army had said.
The Army was satisfied that Mr. Kamalesan's further retention was "undesirable" and his dismissal was upheld by the precocious court.
It was held that regimental spiritual spaces, though rooted successful history, service a secular, unifying purpose, not a denominational one.
