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Simon Case and other top officials named in lawsuit filed by former Treasury employee Cabinet Secretary Simon Case Cabinet Secretary Simon Case is being sued by a former Treasury official for "discrimination and harassment".
Rishi Sunak's No. 10 top official is among those named in a labor lawsuit, despite efforts to keep him out of the trial.
Rowaa Ahmar said she was subjected to "direct discrimination and harassment based on her gender and race", and filed a new complaint alleging "victimization".
Mr Case and three other Whitehall mandarins, as well as the Cabinet Office, were named in the discrimination complaint.
The country's top official has sought to have his name removed from the trial, and his lawyers argue there are no "substantial" charges against him.
The lawyers also argued that two other senior officials, Alex Chisolm, the Cabinet Office's permanent secretary, and Sarah Harrison, the Cabinet Office's director of operations, should not be named.
Like Mr Case, the lawyers argued that officials played only "minor roles in the issues that gave rise to these claims."
But Judge McGrade, in a tentative judgment, denied the request to have their names redacted, arguing it could complicate the case.
Ms Ahmar claimed that she had resigned from her Treasury position due to "what she believes are the failings of the three sponsors, including breaking the rules."
Mr Case has been under pressure since leaked messages from Matt Hancock showed him criticizing Boris Johnson and mocking tourists forced to self-isolate during Covid.
Government sources have said the cabinet secretary could be forced to resign as more messages are likely to emerge during the Covid inquiry that are "completely indefensible".
Conservative MPs criticized Mr Case and expressed surprise that he managed to avoid fines during the Partygate saga, having been photographed at some of the rule-breaking events.
But Rishi Sunak praised Mr. Case and said he wanted to further their working relationship. "He works very hard to support me, to support the government's agenda," he said last month.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: 'We do not tolerate bullying, harassment or discrimination and any complaints are taken very seriously. Clear procedures are in place to ensure that complaints are handled sensitively and fairly.
They added: "We are defending these claims and cannot comment further on a pending employment tribunal."
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