A Christian army officer in India has lost his legal battle against dismissal from the Indian Army after refusing to take part in Hindu and Sikh religious rituals, which he said violated his Christian faith.
Lieutenant Samuel Kamalesan, who joined the army in 2017, was removed from service in 2021 after repeatedly declining to enter the inner sanctum of his regiment’s Hindu temple to perform rituals such as puja and aarti, as reported by The Catholic Herald.
Though he attended weekly parades and stood during religious events, he sought exemption from direct participation, citing Christian convictions against idol worship.
Kamalesan's regiment had no Christian place of worship and did not offer a multi-faith space, he noted in his legal challenge.
Despite this, the Delhi High Court ruled on 30th May that his dismissal was valid, stating that military cohesion and discipline take precedence over personal religious choices.
“The court has also overlooked his appreciable act of attending the parades and standing respectfully outside the sanctum.
"Such a punishment constitutes religious coercion and undermines India’s secular character,” said Jesuit Father A. Santhanam, a legal expert based in Tamil Nadu.
He warned that the ruling could set a dangerous precedent: “No authority or order can compel someone to act against their beliefs, such coercion amounts to a form of violence.”
Kamalesan’s supporters say an appeal is being considered.