Hindu BA worker sacked over religious nose stud wins right to return to work

Amrit Lalji, 43, was devastated after she was dismissed for refusing to remove the stud, which she said was integral to her religious beliefs.

But the mother of three, who works for Eurest, which supplies food and services to BA's VIP lounge at Heathrow, was reinstated yesterday after appealing against the decision.

The company admitted it had 'misunderstood' the rules and said Mrs Lalji, who is employed as a cleaner and customer relations worker, would be resuming work on Sunday.

Mrs Lalji, from Stanmore, North-West London, said last night: "I had great support from the media, the union and my temple.

"It took me three months to get my job back but I feel I should not have been put in that position in the first place.

"They agreed that I could start work again and wear my nose pin because I do not work in a catering area.

"I am happy to get my job back."

Hindu women usually have their nose pierced and fitted with a stud as part of the Shringar ritual when they marry.

Mrs Lalji, who was paid during her appeal, has worn a stud for 25 years since her marriage to Devji, a 47-year-old carpenter.

A spokesman for Eurest said: "We have found that the rules relating to facial piercings are mandatory only in catering.

"Though this is not clear in the handbook, which is given to all employees, it is specific in the text of the company's human resources directory.

"Since Mrs Lalji is not engaged in catering, her dismissal resulted from a misunderstanding of the rules and is therefore unjustified."