India’s Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of a Christian army officer who refused to enter the sanctuary of a regimental temple for worship.
Lt Samuel Kamalesan was commissioned into the Indian Army in 2017 and dismissed in 2021 for refusing to join weekly regimental religious parades, citing his Christian faith which he said forbade his taking part.
In a judgment on 25 November, the bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said Kamalesan’s “private understanding” of what his religion cannot allow him to breach military discipline. It upheld a ruling of the Delhi High Court that approved the army’s decision to dismiss him
The Chief Justice said Kamalesan was merely asked to be present at the gurudwara, a Sikh temple, in a spirit of fraternal good will and there was “no imposition” of any ritual or ceremonies on him.
Even after counselling from a local pastor that entering a temple sanctuary would not go against the tenets of Christianity, the officer refused to heed to official directives to take part, which the ruling described as the “grossest kind of indiscipline”.
In defence of Kamalesan, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued that the fundamental right to practise a religion under Article 25 of the Constitution cannot be taken away just because he joined the armed forces.
Justice Bagchi replied that “Article 25 protects essential religious features, not every sentiment”.
Marking India’s Constitution Day the following day, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) issued a statement urging the federal government to safeguard the rights and dignity of minorities and marginalised communities.
The Constitution “carries the hopes of a diverse and plural society, promising dignity, rights, and equal opportunity to every citizen, regardless of religion, caste, or background”, the CBCI statement said. These guarantees, particularly for religious minorities and vulnerable groups, “must be valued and genuinely put into practice”.
The bishops promised that the Church would continue working to support marginalised communities, promote interfaith dialogue and contribute to national development.