New Delhi, May 31 -- Reaffirming the unity and discipline of the armed forces, the Delhi High Court has upheld the termination of a Commanding Officer who refused to participate in regimental weekly religious parades, citing his Christian faith.

The court stated that the Indian Armed Forces are composed of personnel from diverse religious backgrounds, but their primary duty is to safeguard the nation. It asserted that military unity is forged through service and uniform rather than religious, caste, or regional distinctions.

Additionally, the court underscored the heightened responsibility of Commanding Officers to ensure that troops under their command have appropriate facilities to observe their respective religious practices while ma...