Indian scientist files racial discrimination suit

     Edinburgh: An India-born scientist has filed a racial discrimination case claiming one million pounds against the Scottish scientist who cloned Dolly the sheep. Dr Prim Singh (45), the appellant, said that Professor Ian Wilmut (61) forced him to quit his job from the world-renowned Roslin Institute in Midlothian, Scotland, where he earned 40,000 pounds per annum, because of race.. The India-born Dr Singh alleged that he was "passed over for promotions" and given second-rate laboratory equipment only because of the fact that he was Asian by race. He also mentioned in the racial discrimination law suit that he was once dismissed from his position as head of nuclear reprogramming at Roslin in Scotland in June 2004 after lodging a complaint against Prof Wilmut.

    Dr Singh's counsel Lawrence Davies told the industrial tribunal in Edinburgh, where hearing began yesterday, that his client had secretly tape-recorded meetings with senior institute staff without their knowledge and would be using transcripts as evidence to prove racial discrimination case.. But, defence counsel Aiden O'Neill said that the transcripts should not be admissible evidence. "If one person is covertly taping a meeting then the whole structure of that meeting has been altered to the fact that one person knows that he is taping the meeting so he can illicit certain responses," The Scotsman quoted him as saying while arguing the case for the Institute. The hearing is set to see about 30 witnesses for evidence. Meanwhile, according to the report, another scientist, Dr Jeremy Brown, also claimed that he was also forced to leave Roslin for backing Dr Singh. His case for compensation for racial discrimination is due to be heard next year, the paper added.