The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday upheld the dismissal of an Indian Army officer, Samuel Kamalesan, who refused to enter the inner part of a temple (sanctum sanctorum) during an official event, saying that the Army is a secular institution and discipline cannot be compromised.

The top court strongly criticised the officer’s behaviour, saying he had hurt the feelings of his own soldiers and shown gross indiscipline. Calling him a “complete misfit for the Army,” the court said that a disciplined force like the Army cannot function if orders are disobeyed.

Kamalesan, who joined the Army in 2017 as a Lieutenant and served in a Sikh regiment, argued that entering the temple violated his Christian religious beliefs and his right to religious freedom. He said he was willing to offer flowers from outside but would not step inside the sanctum. He claimed that he was forced to participate in activities that went against his faith.

However, a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi rejected his arguments and supported the Delhi High Court's earlier decision that upheld his dismissal without pension or gratuity in 2021. The Supreme Court stated that the officer’s actions showed disobedience to a lawful command, which is unacceptable in the Army.

The bench said that his refusal also hurt morale among soldiers who served under him. The judges questioned how an officer who refuses to stand with his troops can lead them. The bench further observed that the officer was even advised by a pastor that simply entering the temple does not break religious rules, yet he still refused to obey the instructions.

The court said that leadership requires setting an example, and the Army is known for its secular character, where people of different religions serve together with equal respect. The judges noted that the problem was not about performing religious rituals, but about basic discipline and unity. The Supreme Court also refused to reduce the punishment, saying discipline is the backbone of the Indian Army and cannot be compromised.