Irish court rules Sikhs can't wear turban on duty

London: A Sikh man in Ireland has lost his appeal in a court to be allowed to wear the turban while on duty in a volunteer group for that country's police force.

High court Judge Kevin Feeney in Ireland Thursday dismissed the appeal by Ravinder Singh Oberoi to be allowed to wear the turban while on duty for the Garda Reserve, a volunteer group formed to assist the Garda Siochana, the police force of Ireland, the Irish Times reported Friday.

The Garda Reserve was formed in 2006 to comprise around 1,000 volunteers to assist the Garda Siochana in their duties.

Oberoi had completed three stages of his training when he was told that he has to wear his full Garda uniform and, hence, cannot wear his turban.

He then appealed under the country's Equality Acts, saying that he was treated less favourably than others in getting employment as also his conditions of employment.

But the Garda commissioner's lawyers argued that the Equality Acts did not apply to him as he would not be working for Garda Reserve under a contract of employment, but only as a volunteer.

The ruling was then given in favour of the Garda.