Religious discrimination within the Indian Army has become increasingly alarming in recent years, challenging the foundational principles of India’s secular and constitutional framework. A recent ruling by the Delhi High Court has sparked outrage across human rights groups, minority communities, and legal circles both within India and globally. The court upheld the dismissal of a Christian officer for refusing to participate in Hindu temple rituals, citing his act as “indiscipline” and a defiance of lawful command. His only offense was practicing his faith. This verdict sends a dangerous message to religious minorities in uniform that religious conformity is being enforced even in one of the most critical institutions of the Indian state.
This verdict sends a dangerous message to religious minorities in uniform.
This decision is more than a personal setback for one Christian officer. It represents a broader erosion of the secular ethos that once underpinned the Indian Army. Historically, the Indian military prided itself on religious diversity and tolerance, comprising Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and others. The armed forces were once seen as a model of unity in diversity. However, this ruling signifies a break from that tradition, reinforcing the impression that non-Hindu soldiers are now expected to comply with the religious customs of the majority faith.
Concerns are further amplified by the conduct of senior military officials, who have openly aligned themselves with Hindu spiritual figures and religious events. One such example is the current Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, whose visit to a controversial Hindu religious leader’s ashram in full military uniform drew public attention. This act, far from ceremonial, reflects the ongoing ideological shift, what many term the “saffronization” of the Indian military. This growing association between the armed forces and Hindutva ideology, championed by the RSS and the ruling BJP, is blurring the lines between state authority and religious nationalism.
This trend is not isolated to the military. It mirrors broader societal and political developments under the BJP’s rule, particularly in states like Uttar Pradesh, governed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a known Hindutva hardliner. In recent years, restrictions have been imposed on Muslim religious practices, such as banning animal slaughter during Eid al-Adha and cracking down on open-air prayers. These policies, enforced with police intimidation and the threat of arrest, reflect a state-sponsored suppression of minority religious expression.
The ruling signifies a break from the Army’s tradition of unity in diversity.
When viewed in this wider context, the court’s judgment appears not as a neutral legal decision but as a symptom of the larger transformation of the Indian republic, from a secular state to what many fear is becoming a de facto Hindu Rashtra. The Indian Army, once a bulwark of constitutionalism and pluralism, is now being dragged into this ideological shift. If soldiers are disciplined or dismissed for refusing to conform to religious practices that violate their own beliefs, the military risks becoming beholden to religious majoritarianism rather than the Constitution.
The implications are profound. Minority officers and soldiers, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, and others, now face personal and professional insecurity. Refusing to follow religious orders inconsistent with their faith may result in career stagnation, social isolation, or worse. This not only violates domestic legal protections but also contradicts India’s obligations under international human rights treaties.
Saffronization is blurring the lines between state authority and religious nationalism.
What is most disturbing is the coherence of this message across government, judiciary, and military leadership: that adherence to Hindu nationalist values is no longer a personal choice but an institutional expectation. The very neutrality of the Indian state is at risk. A military shaped by ideological conformity, rather than professional discipline and constitutional loyalty, is a danger not only to India’s minorities but to the republic itself.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.
