Supreme Court Calls Army Officer: “Complete Misfit” for the Army

Aman

4 weeks ago

Supreme Court Calls Christian Officer Samuel Kamalesan a “Complete Misfit” for the Army

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Imagine leading brave soldiers into battle, yet refusing to walk beside them into their place of worship. On Tuesday, 25 November 2025, the Supreme Court of India said exactly that kind of behaviour has no place in the Indian Army. A young Christian officer lost his job because he repeatedly refused to enter the inner part of a temple and a gurdwara with his troops. The country’s top court not only agreed with the Army’s decision to fire him; it went further and called Lieutenant Samuel Kamalesan “cantankerous” and a “complete misfit” for military life.

What Actually Happened?

Samuel Kamalesan joined the Army in 2017 and was posted to the historic 3rd Cavalry Regiment. Most soldiers in his squadron were Sikh. Every week, the unit held religious parades. The men marched together to their gurdwara and temple. Everyone was expected to step inside the sanctum sanctorum – the holiest area – even if they only stood quietly.

Kamalesan, however, stopped at the door. He said his Christian faith follows only one God, so entering the inner shrine felt wrong. He also claimed he did not want to offend Hindu or Sikh soldiers by standing there without belief. Officers tried to reason with him. Senior commanders spoke gently. Even a Christian pastor told him that simply walking in would not break any rule of his religion. Nothing worked. Kamalesan kept refusing.

In 2021 the Army finally dismissed him without pension or gratuity.

The Long Court Battle

First, Kamalesan went to the Delhi High Court. In May 2025, the High Court backed the Army. The judges said the real issue was not religion; it was following a lawful order. An officer cannot pick and choose which commands to obey.

Undeterred, Kamalesan knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court.

A Tough Day in the Supreme Court

Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard the case on Tuesday. From the start, the Bench sounded unhappy.

“Is this kind of stubborn behaviour allowed in a disciplined force?” the Chief Justice asked. He pointed out that leaders must lead by example. By staying outside, Kamalesan had insulted the very soldiers who trusted him.

“You hurt the feelings of your own troops,” the judges said. They reminded everyone that the Indian Army is proudly secular. It respects every faith, but it demands iron discipline above all.

The Bench also noted something important: even Kamalesan’s own pastor had said entering the temple would not harm his Christian faith. Still, the officer stuck to his “private understanding” of religion – while wearing the uniform.

“You cannot have your own private rules when you are in uniform,” the Chief Justice declared.

Key Moments from the Courtroom

The judges called the refusal “the grossest kind of indiscipline”.
They said the Army threw him out for the right reason.
“Cantankerous persons like this do not belong in the military,” the Bench observed.
Justice Bagchi explained that Article 25 of the Constitution protects essential religious practices, not every personal feeling.
When the lawyer said it was just “one small incident”, the Chief Justice replied, “One incident is enough when it breaks trust with your soldiers.”

In the end, the Supreme Court refused to help Kamalesan. His dismissal stands.

Why the Army Says This Matters

The Army told the courts that soldiers draw strength from shared traditions. When an officer stands apart during religious parades, the men feel let down. In battle, tiny cracks in trust can become big problems. That is why regimentation – doing things together – is sacred.

Kamalesan had argued that brotherhood comes from shared meals, training and the Tricolour, not from religious rituals. The courts disagreed. They said an officer must respect the “collective faith” of the unit.

A Larger Message

This case is not about Hindu, Sikh or Christian faith. It is about whether personal beliefs can come before military orders. The Supreme Court gave a clear answer: in the armed forces, discipline is supreme.

The judges even said Kamalesan might do well in some other job, but the Indian Army needs people who put the team first – always.

FAQs

Why was Lieutenant Samuel Kamalesan fired?
He repeatedly refused to enter the inner sanctum of the regiment’s temple and gurdwara during weekly religious parades, despite orders and counselling.
Did he refuse to visit places of worship at all?
No. He walked with his troops up to the entrance but stopped at the doorway of the sanctum sanctorum.
Was he asked to perform Hindu or Sikh rituals?
Reports say he only had to accompany his soldiers inside. No source says he was forced to pray or touch idols.
What did his Christian pastor say?
The pastor told him that simply entering the place would not violate Christian beliefs.
Can Army officers practise their own religion?
Yes, fully. But the Supreme Court said they cannot use personal feelings to disobey lawful commands that maintain unit unity.
Is this judgment final?
Yes. The Supreme Court has closed the case. Kamalesan has no further appeal left in Indian courts.