The Supreme Court of India on 25 November 2025 upheld the termination of Samuel Kamalesan, a Christian officer in the Indian Army, who refused to enter the sanctum sanctorum of his regiment’s temple and operate in religious parades. The bench, led by Surya Kant CJI and Justice Joymalya Bagchi,
Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, Chief Justice of India, said in his farewell address that although he practices Buddhism, he considers himself a “truly secular person” and believes in all religions including Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam. He credited his father’s example, stating that his upbringing taught him to respect different faiths. Context And Background During the address,















