Army ordered to back off testing Sikh soldier

WASHINGTON – A serving U.S. Army officer who went to court to keep his beard for religious reasons notched a significant victory Thursday, when a federal judge blocked special tests for the decorated veteran while the case is pending. Federal District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington ruled that the Defense Department can't impose "any non-standard or discriminatory testing" on Capt. Simratpal Singh, who had faced what he called "discriminatory" tests to determine whether his beard or a turban h

WASHINGTON – A serving U.S. Army officer who went to court to keep his beard for religious reasons notched a significant victory Thursday, when a federal judge blocked special tests for the decorated veteran while the case is pending. Federal District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington ruled that the Defense Department can't impose "any non-standard or discriminatory testing" on Capt. Simratpal Singh, who had faced what he called "discriminatory" tests to determine whether his beard or a turban h…