The BRICS TimesA local Christian Pastor tried to explain to Army officer Samuel that visiting a shared shrine would not harm his Christian faith, but all efforts failed.
Supreme Court Emphasizes Secular Nature of the Army
The Supreme Court has stated that the Army is secular and discipline is paramount there. Anyone who refuses to visit a regiment’s place of worship based on personal faith is unfit for the Army. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made these remarks. With these observations, they rejected the petition of an officer dismissed from service.
Officer Refused to Lead Religious Parade Due to Faith
Samuel Kamalesan was recruited as a Lieutenant in the Third Cavalry Regiment in 2017. This regiment primarily consists of Sikh, Jat, and Rajput soldiers. He was appointed as the Troop Leader of Squadron B, which includes Sikh soldiers. Regiment rules required him to lead a weekly religious parade where soldiers visit their place of worship. Samuel refused to join this parade, stating the regiment only had a temple and Gurudwara. He said that as a Christian, he would not enter them.
Failed Attempts to Counsel the Officer
Army officials tried to reason with Samuel for a long time. They sought help from other Christian officers to explain that this is part of Army discipline. Even a local Pastor told Samuel that visiting a collective shrine would not harm his Christian faith. After all efforts failed, the Army Chief ordered his dismissal on March 3, 2021. He was removed from service without any pension or gratuity.
Courts Rule Uniform Unites Beyond Religion
Samuel Kamalesan challenged his dismissal in the Delhi High Court. In May, a bench of Justices Naveen Chawla and Shalinder Kaur upheld the dismissal. The High Court stated that armed forces are united by their uniform, not divided by religion. The issue was about obeying a senior officer’s lawful order, not religious freedom. Now, the Supreme Court also noted that Samuel showed indiscipline and hurt his colleagues’ sentiments.
