A former Treasury Civil Servant is suing the Cabinet Office and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case for “direct discrimination and harassment”, according to reports.
Rowaa Ahmar has lodged two claims against Case, the Cabinet Office, as well as Michael Bourke, Alex Chisholm, and Sarah Harrison on the grounds of discrimination over “sex and race”, as well as “victimisation“.
Ms Ahmar reportedly lodged the first claim on June 23 last year, and the second on 20 November.
Case, 44, and the other respondents insist they “played such minor roles in the issues giving rise to these claims, that they should be removed from the proceedings”.
A preliminary hearing was held last month and Employment Tribunal papers were published on Monday.
Judge McGrade rules that “while the part allegedly played by [Case], the fourth and fifth respondents is relatively minor”, Case’s request to be removed from the claim was rejected.
He wrote: “The first respondent [Cabinet Office] has sought to introduce, without objection, a statutory defence under section 109(4) of the Equality Act 2010 in respect of all the claims.
“Should the first respondent succeed in the statutory defence, the claimant will be unable to obtain an award against the third, fourth and fifth respondents, if they have been removed from the proceedings. I consider this is a factor to which I should attach substantial weight.
“I also consider the proposal to remove the third [Simon Case], fourth and fifth respondents, on the basis that they can be added as additional respondents, should the allegations against them be upheld, is not an appropriate course of action as it could involve additional expense and delay. In these circumstances, I reject the application to remove the third, fourth and fifth respondents.”
Ms Ahmar has in the past received a “Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion award” according to her online profile.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “We do not tolerate bullying, harassment or discrimination and any complaints are taken extremely seriously. There are clear procedures in place to ensure that complaints are handled with sensitivity and fairness. We are defending these claims and cannot comment further on an ongoing employment tribunal.”
