Lawyers representing Sarika Singh, 14, are hoping the judge will rule that she was the victim of unlawful discrimination, in a case which could prove to be pivotal in the debate over religious dress in schools.
Lawyers representing Sarika Singh, 14, are hoping the judge will rule that she was the victim of unlawful discrimination, in a case which could prove to be pivotal in the debate over religious dress in schools.
Aberdare Girls' School in South Wales insisted that Sakira take classes on her own for two months before finally excluding her last November after she refused to remove the small steel bangle, known as a Kara.
The school, at which Sarika was the only Sikh, does not permit jewellery other than wristwatches and plain ear studs.
The kara is one of the five Ks, symbols of the Sikh faith that followers are expected to wear at all times.
In February, Sarika enrolled at Mountain Ash Comprehensive School, which allows her to wear the Kara, pending the outcome of her court challenge.
Her mother, Sinita, 38, has said that, although Mountain Ash is a good school, her daughter's education suffered as a result of the move and the stress involved in the run-up to her GCSEs.
Last Friday, the family travelled to 10 Downing Street to hand in a petition calling on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to intervene in the matter "to show discrimination is totally unacceptable".
The petition gained the backing of 150 Gurdwaras - the main Sikh religious institutions - and over 200 Sikh organisations and 70 non-Sikh organisations.
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Please take a minute to sign the petition at: www.SupportSarika.co.uk
You can do this through Thursday, June 19th
Human rights group Liberty, which is supporting Sarika's High Court battle, claims Aberdare Girls' School breached race, equality and human rights laws by not allowing Sarika to wear the Kara.
Today's hearing, before Mr Justice Silber, is set for three days.
-By Lucy Cockcroft