Supreme Court (ANI photo)
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday strongly criticised a Christian Army soldier for refusing to enter temple and gurdwara for collective religious practices with his regiment. The top court said his conduct amounted to “gross indiscipline.”A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi went on to describe him as an “absolute misfit” for the Army.The soldier had been removed from service earlier because he did not follow the order to enter the temple and gurdwara with his unit. He challenged this decision in the Delhi high court, but the high court upheld his termination. He then approached the Supreme Court.The Delhi high court had earlier said that the soldier placed his personal religious beliefs above the lawful command of his superiors. The soldier’s lawyer, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankarnarayanan, argued that his client simply refused to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and gurdwara because his Christian faith does not allow him to participate in such religious rituals. He also said the soldier had a clean service record for six years and only avoided activities that went against his conscience.However, the Supreme Court was not convinced. The judges said the Army carries a huge responsibility, and discipline must be maintained. They noted that by refusing to join the religious activities of his regiment, the soldier insulted the troops he was leading. As a commander, he should have led by example.In the end, the Supreme Court rejected his appeal and confirmed his termination from the Army.