Twenty five years ago, young orthodox (Khalsa) Sikhs were riding around on their motorbikes and scooters wearing one of the five K's that distinguished them from the other Sikh traditions. They wore their turbans as opposed to the required helmet. They were being prosecuted for not wearing the legally required helmet.

Twenty-five years ago, this branch of Sikhism sought the support of the law against what they saw as discrimation, and won the religious right to continue to wear their turbans and in situations where other people might be required to wear other head apparel, such as uniform caps.

Today, a teenager has fought and won a similar discrimination case to wear at school (when she is able to return to her school) another one of the five K's, the kala, a simple bracelet, because it is a sign of this pupil's faith.

The court has said that the judgement applies just to this particular case which, however, can give support to other cases brought on similar or the same issue. A comment was made that it is sad that each new generation has to fight the same battle.

Both the Turban and the Kala religious insignias can be seen as harmless. One of the five K's is a knife. It is a defensive and protective religious insignia. This one has the visible potential to harm.