SC ruling against Christian army officer exposes deepening institutional bias in India
Verdict is fresh example of judiciary echoing Hindutva line to target minorities
Srinagar: In yet another indication of India’s judiciary aligning with the Hindutva-driven agenda of the Modi regime, the Supreme Court has upheld the dismissal of a Christian Army officer who refused to enter a Hindu temple in the name of participatopm in a regimental “sarva dharma” ritual in a cantonment area of Punjab. The ruling has widely been criticised as part of the broader discrimination targeting religious minorities in India.
According to Kashmir Media Service, a Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant on Tuesday dismissed the plea of Lt Samuel Kamalesan, calling his refusal “the grossest kind of indiscipline”. The officer, who commanded Sikh, Jat and Rajput troops, had declined to enter the “sarva dharma sthal”, citing his Protestant Christian belief and stating that the space housed both a gurdwara and a temple.
The Bench rebuked the officer for his stand, remarking that he “should have been thrown out for this only”. The judges rejected his argument that participating in [Hindu] rituals contrary to his faith.
Lt Kamalesan, commissioned in 2017 and posted with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, was dismissed from service in 2021 on charges that his refusal undermined unit cohesion. The Delhi High Court had earlier upheld the dismissal in May this year.
The officer’s senior counsel argued that Kamalesan could not be compelled to perform worship or rituals forbidden by his faith. He maintained that the conflict stemmed from the insistence of a superior officer who repeatedly forced him to take part in religious ceremonies. The Supreme Court Bench, however, refused to accept the explanation.
Observers say the verdict highlights how India’s judicial system increasingly mirrors the ideological preferences of the RSS-BJP regime, particularly when cases involve religious minorities. They note that instead of protecting constitutional freedoms, the courts frequently endorse actions that reinforce majoritarian dominance within state institutions, including the armed forces.
