![\"\"](\"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/RKU-263x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Supreme Court has upheld the dismissal of a Christian officer from the Indian Army for allegedly refusing to participate in religious rituals at his regiment\u2019s temple and gurdwara. Describing him as a \u201cmisfit\u201d, the top court backed the Army\u2019s decision to terminate him in 2021.<\/p>\n
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi declined to interfere with the Delhi High Court\u2019s May order that had upheld the dismissal of Lieutenant Samuel Kamalesan. The officer had reportedly argued that participating in religious rituals went against his Christian beliefs.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a closer look.<\/p>\n
Why the Army removed a Christian officer<\/h2>\n
Commissioned in 2017, Samuel Kamalesan was posted with a Sikh squadron. As per a\u00a0Bar and Bench<\/em>\u00a0report, he faced disciplinary proceedings for declining to enter the inner sanctum of the regiment\u2019s Hindu temple and gurudwara during mandatory regimental parades.<\/p>\n Kamalesan claimed that his objection stemmed not only as a sign of respect for his Christian faith, but also out of respect for the sentiments of his troops, so as not to offend their religious sentiments with his non-participation in rituals.<\/p>\n He also argued that his troops did not take offence, nor did it impact his strong bond with them, reported\u00a0Bar and Bench.<\/em><\/p>\n The Army, however, said the officer refused to change his stance even after counselling by senior officers and Christian clergy. He was eventually terminated in 2021.<\/p>\n The Army said the officer\u2019s objection undermined unit cohesion and troop morale.<\/p>\n In its May 30 order, the Delhi High Court upheld Kamalesan\u2019s termination, saying the officer had kept his religion above a lawful command from a superior, which was \u201cclearly an act of indiscipline\u201d.<\/p>\n It also noted that Section 41 of the Army Act makes disobeying the order of a superior officer an offence.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Supreme Court<\/a>\u00a0on Tuesday (November 25) upheld Kamalesan\u2019s removal from the Indian Army.<\/p>\n A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymala Bagchi said the officer\u2019s actions were the \u201cgrossest kind of indiscipline by an army officer\u201d.<\/p>\n Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who appeared for Kamalesan, argued that the officer had committed only a \u201csingle infraction\u201d by refusing to enter the sanctum at his place of posting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Why Supreme Court upheld dismissal of a Christian Army officer for refusing to enter gurdwara \u2013 Firstpost<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u0938\u0947\u0928\u093e \u0914\u0930 \u0927\u0930\u094d\u092e : \u0938\u0941\u092a\u094d\u0930\u0940\u092e \u0915\u094b\u0930\u094d\u091f \u0915\u093e \u092c\u095c\u093e \u092b\u0948\u0938\u0932\u093e \u0938\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0917\u0924 \u092f\u094b\u0917\u094d\u092f \u0939\u0948 \u0930\u093e\u091c\u0940\u0935 \u0909\u092a\u093e\u0927\u094d\u092f\u093e\u092f \u0938\u0941\u092a\u094d\u0930\u0940\u092e… more SC upholds Christian Army officer\u2019s termination<\/h2>\n