New York: A day after a US judge recommended nearly $1.5 million to an Indian maid for the "barbaric treatment" by an Indian diplomat and her husband, the woman's lawyer on Friday said he plans to go after the couple's assets as he asked New Delhi to take appropriate action in the case.
US Magistrate Judge Frank Maas has recommended that Shanti Gurung be awarded $1.5 million in compensation by Neena Malhotra, an Indian diplomat who had worked at the Indian Consulate General in Manhattan, and her husband Jogesh Malhotra.
Gurung has alleged that the Malhotras treated her unfairly, giving her a meagre salary for long hours of work.
"The Indian government has consistently ignored this matter and refused to take responsibility for it, which we think is very irresponsible of them and we are hoping that they will now behave appropriately," Mitchell Karlan, the lawyer for maid Shanti Gurung, told.
In New Delhi, sources said that it was "premature" to comment on the issue as the compensation is recommendatory in nature.
"It is premature for us to react. It is only a recommendation to the judge. We will have to wait till the process is over," sources said.
Karlan said it is "regrettable" that the Malhotras have "refused" for over a year to participate in the case and defend themselves.
"Now we have a judgement and we intend to execute on their assets. We intend to begin the process of tracking down Malhotras assets," to ensure compensation is paid to Gurung, he said.
The Malhotras had brought Gurung, who is in her early twenties, to work as their domestic help in New York in 2006.
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