A lecturer who did not make the shortlist for a top job at Bradford University has accused a senior university figure of "waging a racist campaign" against him.

Suresh Deman told an employment tribunal in Leeds that despite writing letters to the university to find out if he had been shortlisted for a position in the university's Project Planning Centre for Development, he was ignored and never received a reply.

Mr Deman, of south east London, is pursuing a case of racial discrimination against the university after it failed to include him in the shortlist.

But the university's director of personnel and deputy registrar, Paul Bunting, told the tribunal yesterday it was the policy not to correspond with any applicant who had not reached the shortlist.

Mr Deman, who is representing himself, said: "You're a director of personnel at the university and you were waging a racist campaign against the applicant."

"I deny that totally," replied Mr Bunting, who said he did not sit on the shortlist panel.

Mr Deman also told the tribunal a lack of responses by the university to his letters indicated his application had not been taken seriously.

"Don't you think it would have been reasonable to send a letter saying 'You have not been short-listed'?" asked Mr Deman.

Mr Bunting said replies were not sent in order to save university resources.

Mr Deman also claimed his letters had not been dealt with by Mr Bunting personally, but were passed to "junior members of staff".

Mr Bunting said: "They had been dealt with in a professional manner by a professional member of staff."

Mr Bunting also denied allegations by Mr Deman that the university failed to place him on the shortlist because of discrimination claims against other institutions.

Mr Deman has pursued 16 separate claims for discrimination against a string of institutions and was involved in a case with another university during his job application to Bradford University.

The hearing continues.