An NRI professional won a High Court appeal in London after a six-year legal battle over workplace fairness. Sanju Pal, from West Bengal, challenged discrimination linked to endometriosis.
The Employment Appeal Tribunal overturned an earlier ruling. Judges said the original tribunal gave inadequate reasoning on disability discrimination. They confirmed that medical evidence supported Pal’s condition.
Pal also challenged Accenture’s progression-based “up or out” model. The tribunal said employers must judge capability based on contracted job duties. The ruling questioned whether the firm used a fair dismissal reason.
The case will return to a newly formed tribunal. Judges will reassess disability status and potential discrimination claims. The panel will also review compensation issues from the earlier award.
Pal’s legal dispute began in 2019 after Accenture dismissed her for alleged underperformance. An employment tribunal upheld unfair dismissal in 2022 but granted limited compensation.
Pal said the verdict marked a major step for employees with chronic illnesses. She hopes the ruling will improve workplace protections and employer accountability.
Endometriosis affects about 1.5 million women in the UK. Legal experts expect the decision to influence future disability discrimination cases.
Accenture said it cannot comment on ongoing proceedings.
