R. (on the application of Playfoot) v. Millais School Governing Body

"R. (on the application of Playfoot) v. Millais School Governing Body" [2007] [http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2007/1698.html EWHC 1698 (Admin)] is a UK discrimination law case concerning freedom of religion. It was decided under the Human Rights Act 1998

Facts

A girl insisted that wearing a chastity ring at school was a manifestation of her religious beliefs as a Christian. Her school had a policy against jewelry, and she was told she was not allowed to wear it. She claimed that it violated her right to freedom of religion, under Art.9 ECHR. She was represented by Paul Diamond

Judgment

Michael Supperstone QC held in the Administrative Court that not only was the wearing of the ring not linked to a belief in chastity before marriage, but that it was not any requirement of the Christian faith. The uniform policy, which she had accepted by going to the school, did not create any undue hardship. The policy was prescribed by law in the legitimate pursuit of creating equality and cohesion, minimising pressure from markings of difference in wealth or status. So any interference with her Art.9 rights was justified. [Alexandra Topping, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/jun/23/schools.religion 'Girl takes school to court over right to wear 'purity' ring] , "The Guardian" (23.06.2007) [http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2109203,00.html] ]

ee also

*UK employment discrimination law
*UK labour law
*Human Rights Act 1998

Notes