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Supreme Court Issues Notice to Coca-Cola on Gender Discrimination
April 17, 2008
The Hindu
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court has sought a reply from soft drinks
giant Coca-Cola on a petition filed by a former employee alleging
harassment and gender discrimination by her seniors.
A bench headed by Justice B N Agarwal issued notice to the US-based
Coca-Cola Company and its Indian subsidiary Coca-Cola India on a petition
filed by Payal Chawla Singh, who was working as assistant legal counsel
in the company.
Chawla alleged that she was harassed at workplace by her seniors during
her pregnancy, deliberately downgrading her performance without any
reason and favouring her male colleagues and ultimately coercing her
to leave her job.
"The applicant during her employment with the respondents (Coca-Cola
India) was grossly discriminated against on account of her gender,
harassed, retaliated against for making a complaint and was coerced
into leaving her gainful employment with the respondents and further
she has been even pursued at her new workplace maliciously forcing
the applicant to resign again," the petition filed through counsel
Vikas Mehta stated.
Through her counsel, Chawla had sought appointment of a sole arbitrator
to adjudicate claims and damages as per the new solutions programme,
under company policy. She has also sought unconditional apology from
the company.
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