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UK Sikh policeman gets Rs 9.6
lakh in discrimination case over turban
WSN Network
 LONDON:
A Sikh policeman, who was asked to remove his turban for riot
training, was last Friday awarded 12,636 Pounds (Rs 9.6 lakh) in
compensation by an employment tribunal after he claimed religious
and racial discrimination.
Constable Gurmel
Singh, who joined Greater Manchester Police in 2004, took action
against the force after the incident last year, although he is still
employed.
After a
three-week hearing in Manchester, Singh was on Friday awarded 3,500
Pounds for indirect discrimination and 6,500 Pounds for harassment
after suffering psychological damage, injury to feelings and
personal injury, the tribunal ruled.
He was also
awarded payment for loss of earnings of 1,914.15 Pounds, including
interest on the award, and the total amount he will receive is
12,636.54 Pounds. In a meeting with one sergeant to discuss riot
training, Singh was asked, "Can you not take that thing off...this
is what you're signed up for."
When officers
suggested he get a modified turban, Singh said he felt like he was
in a famous episode of the TV sitcom in which Del Boy Trotter took a
delivery of 200 "crash turbans" - helmets with cloth wrapped around
it.
Singh said he
suffered panic attacks, stress and palpitations and had to go off
sick from work over the issue during a long-running dispute with his
employers.
The tribunal
rejected 13 of his 15 allegations. But the panel found that Singh
suffered a single case of indirect racial and religious
discrimination, after he was included on a group email on February
8, 2008, telling officers riot training was mandatory and he would,
therefore, have to remove his turban. Singh had already told
superiors he was unhappy about the situation because of his
religion.
Two months later
he had the "unpleasant" meeting with his sergeant and went off sick
the next day.
The tribunal
heard the two officers were on good terms and this was a "one-off
disagreement" but the panel ruled the meeting amounted to
harassment.
Singh is still
employed by Greater Manchester Police, on "recuperative duties".
Speaking outside
the court, Singh said, "I'm looking to return to work and see how
Greater Manchester Police accommodate me.
"The sort of
case I brought forward was long-term issues which I'm hoping will be
resolved and I can only hope GMP can accommodate me."
The officer will
be donating 10 per cent of the award to charitable causes.
7
October 2009
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