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Sikhs win second discriminatory suit this year

J M Shenoy

For the second time this year, Sikhs in America have won the right to work with their beard and hair intact.

Last week, Weck, a surgical instrument manufacturer in Durham, North Carolina agreed to pay Major Singh $ 23,000 following a settlement reached after several weeks of negotiation. And in January, Dominos, the second-largest pizza company in the nation dropped a long-standing ban on beards challenged 12 years ago by Prabhjot Singh Kohli.

The company had refused to hire him as a pizza store manager trainee unless he shaved his beard. Kohli filed suit in 1988 with the Maryland Human Relations Commission, stating that the company's refusal violated Maryland state law against religious discrimination.

Singh, who currently works for IBM, has also reached a settlement with a temporary job agency that got him a job at Weck, the surgical firm. His lawyer would not disclose the amount but it is reported to be much bigger than the settlement with Weck.

Singh, backed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, sued Weck last year. He had been dismissed about two-and-a-half years ago, though he offered to wear two masks over his beard and a hair net around his turban.

EEOC, which has filed at least half a dozen cases in behalf of Sikhs, determined early last year that Weck had violated parts of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

EEOC said Weck has also agreed to provide a training program to its managers and supervisors that will include an explanation of the requirements of the federal equal opportunity laws.

Sikh leaders at the Durham gurdwara said the two cases should encourage other Sikhs who faced discrimination to fight for their religious rights.

"It was not about the money; it was about the basic right to practice our religion," Dr Daljit S Caberwal, president of the Sikh gurdwara of North Carolina, told the local media.

"Make no mistake about it. Our community will support individuals who have been discriminated against."

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