NRI Sanju Pal Wins UK Appeal in Chronic Illness Discrimination Case

Los Angeles/Jan 19, 2026
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/A.Gary Singh

Sanju Pal, 4, NRI from West Bengal, suffers from endometriosis, a chronic condition that affects millions of women and can cause significant pain and disability. Her case challenges how employers treat employees with long-term health issues under the UK’s Equality Act 2010 and the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Represented by law firm Kilgannon & Partners, Pal appealed against a previous employment tribunal decision that rejected disability discrimination claims linked to her condition and upheld her dismissal from Accenture (UK) Ltd in 2019 for alleged underperformance after she failed to secure a promotion. The High Court found the earlier tribunal’s reasoning on disability discrimination “wholly inadequate” and sent the matter back to a newly constituted tribunal to be reassessed from scratch.

The appeal also questioned a controversial “up or out” progression-based model used by the company to dismiss staff not deemed ready for promotion. The Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled that dismissals should only be based on capability in the role actually held under the employment contract, a decision that strengthens workplace protections.

Pal’s case, which began in 2019, previously resulted in a modest compensation award, but the latest victory may lead to broader recognition of chronic illness as a protected disability at work. Pal, who raised funds for her legal fight through CrowdJustice, said the verdict was a relief after a six-year struggle and could help ensure better support for employees with long-term health conditions. She also holds the UK Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award for her charity work.

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