Discipline is paramount as SC upholds dismissal over temple row

In a significant ruling emphasizing the secular fabric of the Indian Armed Forces, the Supreme Court has validated the decision to terminate a Christian officer from service. The dismissal stemmed from the officer’s refusal to enter the inner sanctum of a temple during a regimental ceremony, an act the court deemed as gross indiscipline.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took a firm stand, observing that the Army is an inherently secular institution. The court remarked that an officer who cannot respect the traditions of the squadron he commands is a "complete misfit" for the service.

The case involved Samuel Kamalesan, an officer posted with a Sikh squadron in Mamum, Punjab. He had challenged his termination, which was previously upheld by the Delhi High Court. Kamalesan’s legal counsel, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, argued that the officer’s religious freedom was being compromised. He submitted that Kamalesan was willing to offer flowers from the outside but felt that entering the sanctum sanctorum (inner shrine) contradicted his personal faith.

However, the Supreme Court rejected this defense entirely. The bench questioned how an officer could lead men if he refused to participate in their collective traditions. The Justices pointed out that such behavior insults the soldiers and indicates an ego that overrides duty. "You have hurt the feelings of your soldiers," the bench observed, adding that refusing a direct command in a disciplined force is unacceptable.

Furthermore, the court highlighted a critical detail: even a pastor consulted on the matter had advised the officer that entering a Sarva Dharma Sthal (a place of worship for all religions) did not violate Christian tenets. Despite this spiritual counsel, Kamalesan persisted in his refusal.

Concluding the hearing, CJI Surya Kant noted that the officer's actions sent the wrong message to the troops. By refusing to interfere with the High Court's order, the Supreme Court reiterated that in the Indian Army, the camaraderie and discipline of the unit take precedence over individual religious rigidity.