Sanju Pal, a non-resident Indian originally from West Bengal, has secured a significant legal victory in the United Kingdom after winning her High Court appeal in London on January 19, following a prolonged six-year battle for workplace fairness.
Pal, who suffers from endometriosis, challenged her dismissal on the grounds of disability discrimination. The ruling is expected to set an important precedent for employment rights relating to chronic illnesses under the UK’s Equality Act 2010
Endometriosis, a condition known to cause severe pelvic pain, is estimated to affect around 1.5 million women across the UK. Pal argued that her condition was not adequately considered in workplace decisions affecting her career progression.
Represented by Kilgannon & Partners, Pal also questioned the legality of the “up or out” promotion model, contending that removing consultants deemed unready for advancement may be unfair under the Employment Rights Act 1996.
The Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled in Pal’s favor against Accenture, stating that the earlier Employment Tribunal had failed to properly assess whether endometriosis constituted a disability. The tribunal noted that Pal’s medical evidence had not been adequately evaluated and that the impact of her condition without medical treatment had not been considered.
As a result, the findings that Pal was not disabled and had not faced discrimination arising from disability were set aside. The case will now return to a newly constituted tribunal for a fresh review of the disability issue.
Pal was dismissed in 2019 after being denied promotion to senior manager. Although an Employment Tribunal later upheld her unfair dismissal claim in May 2022, awarding 4,275 pounds, the compensation aspect of the case will now also be reconsidered to assess whether proper internal procedures were followed.
To support her appeal, Pal raised funds through CrowdJustice, with the hearing taking place on December 9, 2025.
Beyond her legal efforts, Pal has been recognised with the UK Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award for her work as the founder of Rural India Social Enterprise, an organisation focused on improving education outcomes in rural India and the UK.
