Today, the Supreme Court described the conduct of a former Army officer as the “grossest kind of indiscipline” and dismissed his plea challenging termination after he allegedly refused to participate in regimental religious activities at a temple where he was posted.
Samuel Kamalesan, commissioned in 2017 into the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and serving as troop leader of the 'B' Squadron, allegedly refused to enter the sanctum sanctorum of a temple during regimental ceremonies, citing his Christian faith. The regiment also maintained a gurdwara for Sikh personnel. Kamalesan claimed he had attended weekly religious parades at both places but refrained from participating in the innermost sanctum during rituals like “aarti, havan, or puja.” The Army argued that he repeatedly ignored mandatory regimental parades and counselling by senior officers, which weakened unit cohesion.
Kamalesan’s counsel, argued that his client’s fundamental right to practice religion under Article 25 of the Constitution was being violated, emphasising that he had otherwise participated respectfully in multi-faith spaces and regimental events. The Army contended that Kamalesan’s refusal was “cantankerous” conduct incompatible with military discipline and operational effectiveness.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed, “What kind of message has he been sending? He should have been thrown out for this only. This is the grossest kind of indiscipline by an Army official.”
The Court emphasised that leaders must “lead by example” and that an officer cannot rely on personal religious interpretation while in uniform. Noting that even a local pastor had advised Kamalesan that entering a “sarva dharma sthal” would not violate his faith, the Court asked, “Where in the Christian faith is entering a temple barred?” The bench highlighted the secular and unifying nature of regimental religious spaces, stating that the officer’s conduct insulted the sentiments of his own soldiers.
The Supreme Court refused to interfere with the Delhi High Court’s judgment upholding the Army’s action, effectively dismissing Kamalesan’s plea and endorsing his termination from service.
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