A Sikh girl in the UK has won the right to wear a religious bangle at school after the High Court found in her favour in a landmark ruling which could impact on schools across the country. Sarika Watkins-Singh, 14, won the case against Aberdare Girls’ School in South Wales, which excluded her in November 2007 after she refused to take off her religious bangle, known as the Kura.
Justice Stephen Silber held that the school was guilty of indirect discrimination under race relations and equality laws.
The ruling sets a precedent for other schools, who will no longer be able to prevent pupils wearing the religious symbol under their school uniform policies.
After the ruling, Miss Watkins-Singh - who will be returning to the school wearing her bangle in September - said: “I am overwhelmed by the outcome and it’s marvellous to know that the long journey I've been on has finally come to an end. I’m so happy to know that no-one else will go through what me and my family have gone through. I just want to say that I am a proud Welsh and Punjabi Sikh girl.”
The court was told that the bangle was as potent a symbol of faith to Miss Watkins-Singh as it was to English cricketer Monty Panesar, who is also a devout Sikh and wears the bangle during every game.
The Kara is one of the five essential symbols of Sikhism, known as the Panj Kakaars, or five Ks, which are worn at all times by devout Sikhs. It acts as a visual reminder not to commit sins.
Miss Watkins-Singh had told teachers at her all-girls school that she would not take it off because it reminded to her to behave well.
The pupil, the only Sikh among a total of 600 students, was suspended after its governing body ruled she was not allowed to wear the symbol. The school has a strict dress code that prohibits any religious symbols including Muslim headscarves and limits jewellery to a wristwatch and small ear studs.
Following today's verdict, Miss Watkins-Singh's mother, Sanita Singh, 38, said she was extremely proud of her daughter for standing up for her faith.
"She felt that she had to fight for what she believed in and stand up for her religion."
Mrs Singh went on to say that the case had been "traumatic for the whole family" - but added that they were prepared to continue the case if the school appealed against the decision.
Miss Singh’s case echoes that of Christian pupil Lydia Playfoot, who made an unsuccessful challenge in the High Court against her school’s prohibition on chastity rings in 2007.
The case comes after a series of recent legal battles over religious dress in Britain. In one of the most high profile, a Muslim primary school teacher who refused to remove her veil when male colleagues were present lost her discrimination case in 2006, but was later awarded £1,100 over the way it was handled.
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