New Delhi, Nov 25: The Supreme Court Tuesday upheld the Indian Army’s decision to dismiss a Christian officer who refused to enter a gurdwara to perform a puja, describing him as a “cantankerous man” and a “misfit.” The court backed the military’s stance that Kamalesan’s actions showed a failure to respect the faith of fellow Sikh soldiers.

“What kind of message is he sending? Gross indiscipline by an Army officer. He should have been terminated. This kind of cantankerous person deserves to be in the military?” said a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, rejecting Lieutenant 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,” the bench added.

Kamalesan, formerly of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, was sacked after defying a superior officer’s command to enter the sanctum sanctorum of a temple to conduct a puja. Kamalesan argued that participating would conflict with his monotheistic Christian faith.

In May, the Delhi High Court reaffirmed the Army’s decision, stating that Kamalesan “kept his religion above a lawful command from his superior” and that his actions represented “an act of indiscipline” and a violation of “essential military ethos.”

During Tuesday’s hearing, Justice Joymala Bagchi noted that Kamalesan had even ignored guidance from his own pastor. “When your pastor counsels you… you leave it at that. You cannot have your private understanding of what your religion permits. That too, in uniform,” the justice said.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing Kamalesan, argued that the officer had been dismissed for a single infraction and had otherwise shown respect for other religions by participating in festivals such as Holi and Diwali.

“This one place in Punjab did not have a sarv dharm sthal [a structure symbolising the unity of all religions],” Sankaranarayanan said. “He is standing right outside the sanctum. He told them, ‘Everything else you want me to do outside, I’ll do… but entering the sanctum is against my faith.’ Only one person—his superior—had a problem.”

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Sankaranarayanan also argued that the Constitution guarantees the right to practice one’s religion, including the right not to participate in religious practices of other faiths. “By joining the Army, one does not lose one’s religious identity. I was entering the gurdwara, temple, everything… but I stopped when they asked me to do puja. At least that much the Constitution provides,” he said.

The Supreme Court, however, rejected these arguments, siding with the Army’s position that Kamalesan’s refusal constituted serious indiscipline.