- Atlanta - Boston - Chicago - DC Area - Houston - Jersey Area - Los Angeles - New York - SF Bay Area
- Earlier editions
- Astrology - Cricket - Money - Movies - Women - India News - US News
A United States federal judge in San Francisco ruled that Macan Singh, an undocumented worker from India, could seek damages for unpaid wages from his former boss and uncle, who allegedly reported him to the immigration officials.
The ruling allows Singh to sue Charanjit Jutla, his former employer and uncle, for emotional distress and punitive damages.
Singh said Jutla had 'promised an even partnership' when recruiting him from India.
Instead, Singh said that for three years, he was 'made' to work at C D & R's Oil for 'meals and a spot to sleep' on his uncle's floor.
He said his uncle turned him in to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service officials, a day after agreeing to a US $70,000 settlement for back pay.
Singh is in jail since May 2001 after being arrested by the INS and awaiting deportation.
District judge Charles Breyer said that barring such claims 'would provide a perverse economic incentive to employers to seek out and knowingly hire illegal workers'.
In March 27, 2002, the U S Supreme Court had ruled in a 5-4 decision that 'an illegal immigrant who was unlawfully fired could not seek back pay for the time he would have remained working'.
The SC had said the worker 'wasn't legally entitled to work and said allowing damages would condone lawbreaking.'
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
