The Hindu : International : Woman seeks damages for racial bias

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 01, 2005

International

International

Woman seeks damages for racial bias

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, MARCH 31. A British-Indian woman has sued the prestigious Law Society, the country's leading body of solicitors, for £1 million for alleged racial and sexual harassment.

Simrit Parmar, 37, who worked for the Society as an adviser, has alleged that she was a victim of persistent ``bullying'' and ``discrimination'' because of her race and sex. She has accused the management of having a ``racist stereotyped view,'' and claimed that she was ``sickened'' by some of the comments she heard.

In her complaint to an employment tribunal, seeking damages from the Society, Ms. Parmar alleges attempts by managers to belittle Asian and other non-white staff. One former official is quoted as describing African-Caribbeans as ``lazy'' and with ``attitude problems.'' Ms. Parmar has also reportedly claimed that she was encouraged to bring a complaint against another colleague of Indian origin, Kamlesh Bahl, a former vice-president of the Society, when she was facing allegations of bullying.

``It is safer and more effective for it [the Society] to encourage Asian staff to falsely complain against their own race because that complaint is less likely to be perceived as racist and to reveal the underlying hostility of certain white managers,'' she said.

According to Ms. Parmar, she was ostracised and faced attempts by the management to run her down because of her gender and race. She alleges that she was ``bullied and harassed'' for taking time off to look after her terminally-ill father. The Law Society denied the allegations and said it would defend them before the tribunal.

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