A court in India’s national capital has upheld the termination of a Christian army officer for “indiscipline,” after he persistently refused to lead a weekly religious parade, considering it against his faith.

Officer Samuel Kamalesan “has kept his religion above a lawful command from his superior. This clearly is an act of indiscipline,” said the Delhi High Court in its May 30 order. The court upheld the termination.

Kamalesan, a Protestant Christian, was terminated in March 2021, four years after he joined the army, without providing him any benefits, such as a pension or gratuity.

He joined the force as a Lieutenant and was appointed the troop leader of a squadron comprising Sikh soldiers.

As the leader of his troop, Kamalesan was required to lead the troop in a weekly parade to a Gurudwara, a Sikh temple, and join prayers inside the innermost temple, its sanctum sanctorum, with temple priests. Kamalesan refused, stating that his Christian faith does not permit him to do so, according to court records.

Kamalesan’s petition in the High Court challenged his termination and sought reinstatement.

The federal government opposed the petition. Government attorney told the court that Kamalesan’s refusal was “only on the ground of his religious beliefs” and it “has an adverse effect on the morale and motivation of the troops he commands.”

Despite reminders, counseling, and advice from his seniors about the need to adhere to military discipline, Kamalesan refused to lead the prayers inside the temple, insisting that he could not do so because of his monotheistic Christian faith, the court was informed.

Kamalesan was also taken to a Christian priest for counseling to change his attitude and adhere to the army discipline, which he continuously violated, the federal attorney told the court.

The court ruled Kamalesan’s “persistent refusal to fully participate in weekly regimental religious parades, despite extensive counseling and opportunities for compliance, justified the action taken by the respondent.”

Kamalesan also told the court that he has no objection to participating in the prayers in the temple courtyard with his fellow troops and viewing "the rituals in the inner shrine as an integral member of the religious parade.”

He had only sought exemption from entering the temple’s innermost part and leading the prayers as “a sign of respect” for his Christian faith, and also to “respect the sentiments of his troops so that his non-participation while in the inner shrine would not desecrate and offend their religious sentiments.”

The division bench of Justices Navin Chawala and Shalinder Kaur, however, disagreed with his arguments, citing the army’s disciplinary rules, which consider persistent disobedience of rules and senior officers as a serious violation.

A Catholic military officer, who preferred to remain anonymous because he is not authorized to speak to the media, agreed with the court ruling and said: “Regimental religious parades are nothing new. It is part of the force in every regiment, and every troop leader follows it irrespective of their religion.”

He said that several Christian troop leaders, including himself, have led and continue to lead troops to the regiment’s Hindu temples, and conduct prayers, offerings, and the Arati as ritual worship inside the innermost temple.

“Without the army uniform, I may be a Catholic. But with the uniform, I’m part of my regiment and will follow the disciplines of the force. Our regimental identity is above religion, caste, and community,” he told UCA News on June 2. (UCA News, but headline rejigged)

• PHOTO: Indian soldiers of the Sikh regiment participate in the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on Jan. 26, 2007. A Christian troop leader of the regiment was terminated for his refusal to participate in prayers inside the regiment's Sikh temple in March 2021, and a Delhi court upheld it on May 30, 2025. (Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV / AFP)