Shared by @GemsOfBollywood — Follow @RashtraJyoti Christian man in Indian Army refuses to enter…

Shared by @GemsOfBollywood — Follow @RashtraJyoti

Christian man in Indian Army refuses to enter temple for regimental practices saying his religion forbids from entering a place where aarti, havan or puja is taking place

Case:

– Samuel Kamalesan was commissioned in Indian Army in March 2017 on rank of Lieutenant

– He refused to attend regimental religious parades and rituals of his regiment that maintained a temple and gurudwara

– Multiple officers counselled him, but he persisted

– Army terminated him from service

– Delhi high court upheld his termination. He then moved Supreme Court.

Case heard in Supreme Court today

– Samuel’s lawyer, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, told court that entering the temple would violate the First Commandment of Christianity: “Thou shalt not worship another God.”

– New CJI Surya Kant called the conduct of Samuel “gross indiscipline”; said such behaviour insults the religious practices of soldiers

– “What kind of message he has been sending…he should have been thrown out for this only…grossest kind of indiscipline by an army official,” CJI observed

– CJI Kant further said that the regiment maintained a Gurudwara as well. “Gurudwara is one of the most secular places. The manner in which he is behaving, is he not insulting the other religions? Religious ego such high that he does not care about others?”

– Justice Bagchi highlighted that a pastor had advised Samuel that entering the temple would not violate Christianity, yet the officer refused.

Supreme Court upheld Samuel’s termination.