Ragunath Kesavan, the lawyer representing Subramaniam, said Industrial Court chairman Iznan Ishak needed more time to go through the records.

“He (Subramaniam) wants his day in court,” Ragunath said, adding that his client, who was dismissed in 2008, had “suffered the most”.

On June 20, the Federal Court sent the case back to the Industrial Court for it to decide on merit.

Chief Judge of Malaya Azahar Mohamed had said that only the doctrine of “restrictive immunity” was applicable to foreign governments or their diplomatic missions here in relation to the dismissal of their employees.

Subramaniam, 53, who served the embassy for 21 years, is seeking reinstatement or compensation as a substitute for returning to work. He was earning RM2,000 a month at the time of the dismissal.

Also accompanying Subramaniam at the Industrial Court today was Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S Arulchelvan, who hoped the case would proceed without further delay.