A PAKISTANI job applicant rejected for a senior post at a Redditch charity was racially discriminated against, an employment tribunal has ruled.

The now defunct Redditch Council for Voluntary Services (RCVS) and its chairman, Robert Rainbow, were found to have discriminated against Rauf Shah after he applied for a development officer post in September 2000.

The tribunal will decide on Tuesday whether the charity's trustees, possibly including some Redditch councillors, will have to pay compensation to Mr Shah, of Oakly Road, Southcrest.

The tribunal heard how Mr Shah applied for the job and was shortlisted for interview but later rejected.

Mr Shah requested feedback from the interview conducted by Mr Rainbow and two colleagues, which he did not receive.

He then contacted Worcestershire Racial Equality Council (WREC) to ask on his behalf.

The tribunal heard how feedback never materialised and Mr Shah began to suspect racial discrimination.

When legal proceedings began, many of the relevant documents had been lost.

The tribunal ruled Mr Rainbow's evidence was contradictory because he initially suggested feedback was offered but later acknowledged he had not provided it because of WREC's involvement.

The development officer post was eventually given to another candidate, Charles Stevens.

The tribunal ruled: "There was a difference of treatment between the applicant and the successful applicant for the post, Mr Stevens."

It also said RCVS failed to provide adequate explanation for the difference of treatment and concluded: "It is appropriate to draw the adverse inference of unlawful discrimination on racial grounds."

Mr Shah also alleged discrimination in his failure to be shortlisted for another job as publicity officer but this accusation was rejected.

At the tribunal, Mr Rainbow vehemently denied both allegations.

WREC officer Sheleen McCormack said: "It's simply not enough to state you have an equal opportunity policy.

"It is likewise equally as important to be able to show that the policy is seen to work.

"This demonstrably did not occur in this case. The RCVS dismally failed to offer a fair and open recruitment policy to a gentleman who, in the end, merely requested information on how he performed at interview."