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Sarika Watkins-Singh was banned from classes at Aberdare Girls' School in south Wales as she would not remove the bangle, which is a symbol of her faith. The 14-year-old claims unlawful discrimination.

But the school says pupils are banned from wearing most jewellery. The hearing in London continues. The hearing is looking into whether the decision of the school is justified.

The first day of the hearing heard the simple steel bangle is also worn by England cricketer Monty Panesar. Lawyers for the schoolgirl, who was excluded from Aberdare Girls' School last November for not removing the bangle, said the item - known as a Kara - means as much to Sarika as it does to the spin bowler.

They said it is one of the symbols of their Sikh faith and not a piece of jewellery. Mr Justice Silber said he would like to see one of the bangles at some point during the hearing, which is scheduled for three days. In the meantime, Sarika's counsel, Helen Mountfield, referred the judge to a photograph of Panesar wearing the Kara.

Before her exclusion from school, Sarika had been taught in isolation for two months. The school, at which Sarika was the only Sikh pupil among 600 girls, does not permit jewellery other than wristwatches and plain ear studs. 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.

Sikh Support

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. More than 100 MPs have also offered support. Including MP for Southall, Virendra Sharma, He says:

Virendra Sharma, MP Southall

"It's a question of principle, she has every right to wear a kara, a Sikh symbol, as she belongs to the Sikh faith. As long as the practice is not harmful [she] should have the right."听

Human rights group Liberty, which is supporting Sarika's case, claims Aberdare Girls' School breached race, equality and human rights laws by not allowing Sarika to wear the Kara. The governors of the school rejected her request to wear the bangle after a "significant period of research" examining the uniform policy and human rights legislation in detail.

In January, the Welsh Assembly Government published new guidelines for school governors, saying they should take account of religious views and consider whether uniform policy interfered with the right to manifest a religion or belief.

email: ramaa.sharma@bbc.co.uk