Misfit for secular Army: Supreme Court upholds Christian Army officers dismissal over his refusal to enter Gurdwara
Kamalesan, a former Lieutenant in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, was dismissed from the Army for disobeying orders.
PTC News Desk: The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the decision to dismiss Christian Army officer for refusing to enter Gurdwara and labelled him a "cantankerous man" and a "misfit", for failing to respect his fellow (Sikh) soldiers' faith.
"What kind of message is he sending? Gross indiscipline by an Army officer. He should have been terminated. This kind of cantankerous persons deserves to be in the military?" a bench led by the new Chief Justice Surya Kant said as the court shot down Samuel Kamalesan's petition.
"He may be an outstanding officer but he is a misfit for the Indian Army. The amount of responsibilities our forces have at this time... this is not what we want to entertain."
Kamalesan, a former Lieutenant in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, was dismissed from the Army for disobeying orders. He had refused to enter a temple’s inner sanctum to perform a puja, saying that doing so went against his Christian beliefs.
In May, the Delhi High Court upheld the Army’s decision, stating that Kamalesan had placed his religion above a lawful order from a superior officer and calling this behaviour “an act of indiscipline.” The court said his refusal went against the “core values of military conduct.”
Today, the Supreme Court also rejected Kamalesan’s appeal. Justice Joymala Bagchi pointed out that he had even gone against the guidance of his own pastor.