05A31284
10-15-2003
Harjinder K. Virdee, Complainant, v. Anthony J. Principi, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.
Harjinder K. Virdee v. Department of Veterans Affairs
05A31284
October 15, 2003
.
Harjinder K. Virdee,
Complainant,
v.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs,
Agency.
Request No. 05A31284
Appeal No. 01A23025
Agency Nos. 200K-1404; 200K-1581; 200K-1780
DENIAL OF REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION
Harjinder K. Virdee (complainant) timely initiated a request to the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) to reconsider
the decision in Harjinder K. Virdee v. Department of Veterans Affairs,
EEOC Appeal No. 01A23025 (August 5, 2003). EEOC Regulations provide that
the Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider any previous Commission
decision where the requesting party demonstrates that: (1) the appellate
decision involved a clearly erroneous interpretation of material fact
or law; or (2) the appellate decision will have a substantial impact
on the policies, practices, or operations of the agency. See 29
C.F.R. � 1614.405(b). However, we remind complainant that a �request
for reconsideration is not a second appeal to the Commission.� Equal
Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614
(rev. Nov. 9, 1999), at 9-17.
This Commission carefully considered all of the record evidence at the
time it rendered the initial decision in question, and complainant has
offered no persuasive reason why this decision should be reconsidered now.
Therefore, after a review of complainant's request for reconsideration,
the previous decision, and the entire record, the Commission finds that
the request fails to meet the criteria of 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405(b), and it
is the decision of the Commission to deny the request.<1> The decision
in EEOC Appeal No. 01A23025 remains the Commission's final decision.
There is no further right of administrative appeal on the decision of
the Commission on this request for reconsideration.
COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (P0900)
This decision of the Commission is final, and there is no further right
of administrative appeal from the Commission's decision. You have the
right to file a civil action in an appropriate United States District
Court within ninety (90) calendar days from the date that you receive this
decision. If you file a civil action, you must name as the defendant in
the complaint the person who is the official agency head or department
head, identifying that person by his or her full name and official title.
Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of your case in court.
"Agency" or "department" means the national organization, and not the
local office, facility or department in which you work.
RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z1199)
If you decide to file a civil action, and if you do not have or cannot
afford the services of an attorney, you may request that the Court appoint
an attorney to represent you and that the Court permit you to file the
action without payment of fees, costs, or other security. See Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.;
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. �� 791, 794(c).
The grant or denial of the request is within the sole discretion of
the Court. Filing a request for an attorney does not extend your time
in which to file a civil action. Both the request and the civil action
must be filed within the time limits as stated in the paragraph above
("Right to File A Civil Action").
FOR THE COMMISSION:
______________________________
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
October 15, 2003
__________________
Date
1 Complainant alleged in her request for
reconsideration, that she has been subjected to additional discriminatory
actions since she filed her instant complaint. The Commission's
regulations do not permit a complainant to raise a new claim when
requesting reconsideration. Therefore, even assuming arguendo that
complainant's claims are related to her instant claim, it would be
inappropriate for the Commission to address them now. Complainant is
advised that if she wishes to pursue, through the EEO process, the
additional claims, she must contact an EEO counselor within 15 days
after she receives this decision. The Commission advises the agency
if complainant seeks EEO counseling regarding the new claims within the
above 15 day period, the date complainant filed the statement in support
of her request for reconsideration in which she raised these claims
shall be deemed the date of initial EEO contact, unless she previously
contacted a counselor regarding this matter, in which case the earlier
date shall serve as the EEO counselor contact date.