By Julian Seva

A REDDITCH charity, due to be wound up because of debt, faced accusations of racial discrimination at an industrial tribunal on Monday.

Rauf Shah, of Oakley Road, Southcrest, claims Redditch Council for Voluntary Services (RCVS) did not fairly consider him for a job as development manager or offer to interview him for another post as publicity and information officer.

Mr Shah, who is of Pakistani origin, also claimed the charity failed to provide adequate feedback on why he was rejected and then obstructed his efforts to obtain it.

But RCVS chairman Robert Rainbow vehemently denied the allegations under cross-examination from Sheleen McCormack, of Worcestershire Racial Equality Council.

Mr Shah was interviewed for the development manager post in October 2000 and also applied for the publicity officer post at that time.

Mr Shah said he felt he had done well in the interview so wanted to know why he was rejected and why he was not shortlisted for the publicity officer post.

Mr Rainbow said RCVS had an active equal opportunities policy of which all staff and trustees were aware.

He said application forms for both jobs had been looked at anonymously and Mr Shah had been shortlisted for only the development manager post.

That job eventually went to someone else who was better qualified, he said, and denied Mr Shah's colour had any bearing on the appointment.

The tribunal members will make their decision in July.

RCVS closed its office in April with tens of thousands of pounds of debt.