The Hiroshima High Court ordered a hospital Tuesday to pay some ¥1.75 million in damages to a physical therapist who had been demoted after seeking a lighter workload due to pregnancy.

The Supreme Court had sent the case back last October for re-deliberation to the high court, which earlier dismissed the woman's damages claim.

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court's First Petty Bench said "demotion due to pregnancy is prohibited in principle" and is unlawful and void unless the woman accepts it voluntarily or there are special circumstances requiring such a move.