London: NRI solicitor Kamlesh Bahl, former Vice-President of the Law Society, has suffered a set back with an employment appeal Tribunal reversing an earlier finding that she was a victim of sex and race discrimination.

"Bahl was not subjected to racial and sexual discrimination", the Tribunal said in a 111-page ruling on July 31.

The Tribunal overturned a ruling made in July 2001 that Bahl had been the victim of discrimination, after an appeal by the society, its former president and former secretary general.

The ruling came after three years of a costly and damaging legal battle that has already run up a legal bill of 2.5 million Pounds for the society, the professional body for 1,00,000 solicitors in England and Wales.

But it appears that the ruling, that the society, its former president Robert Sayer, and its former secretary general, Jane Betts were not guilty of discrimination, is not the end of the bitter battle.

Bahl, who was "shocked" at the decision, has vowed to take the matter to the European Court of Human Rights, Nitin Lakhani, her husband said.

No ruling has yet been made on costs. The Law Society council, of which Bahl is a member, will decide whether to pursue her for its legal costs, which for the two Tribunal hearings amount to 1.9 million Pounds.

With the costs of the inquiry under Lord Griffiths, a retired Law Lord, which upheld complaints of bullying against Bahl, the bill for the society stands at 2.5 million Pounds.

PTI