New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday confirmed the dismissal of Lieutenant Samuel Kamalesan, calling his conduct a severe breach of discipline after he declined to participate in a regimental ‘sarva dharma’ ceremony held in a cantonment in Punjab.
The officer, who led Sikh, Jat, and Rajput soldiers, allegedly refused to enter the multi-faith prayer area, arguing that it included a gurdwara and a temple.
Court Rejects Plea for Exemption
The Bench observed that the officer continued to resist involvement in the ritual even after counselling by a Pastor. Lt. Kamalesan, who joined the Army in 2017 and served with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, had requested to be excused from entering the sanctum sanctorum of religious structures, asserting that participating in such rituals conflicted with his Protestant Christian beliefs.
His refusal, according to military authorities, affected unit cohesion and morale, leading to his dismissal in 2021. The Delhi High Court had earlier upheld this action on May 30.
Legal Arguments Fail to Sway Bench
Representing the officer, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued that while his client was willing to enter the prayer space, he should not be compelled to perform any rituals.
He maintained that one superior officer had escalated the issue by insisting on participation in religious ceremonies.
Despite these submissions, the Supreme Court remained unconvinced, questioning the officer’s approach and its implications for the sentiments of soldiers from other faiths.