Former Cisco engineering managers Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella are co-defendants in the lawsuit, which accuses Cisco and them of harassment for internally enforcing the caste hierarchy. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Jose, does not name the alleged victim, who was a principal engineer at Cisco’s San Jose headquarters since October 2015. The law suit states that he was born at the bottom of caste hierarchy as a Dalit, once called “untouchables.”

OAKLAND - California regulators sued Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO.O) this month, accusing it and two of it’s Indo-American managers of discriminating against an Indo-American employee and allowing him to be harassed by two managers because he was from a lower Indian caste than them.

U.S. employment law does not specifically bar caste-based discrimination, but California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing contends in the lawsuit that the Hindu faith’s lingering caste system is based on protected classes such as religion.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Jose, does not name the alleged victim. It states he has been a principal engineer at Cisco’s San Jose headquarters since October 2015 and that he was born at the bottom of caste hierarchy as a Dalit, once called “untouchables.”

Like other large Silicon Valley employers, Cisco’s workforce includes thousands of Indian immigrants, most of whom were born Brahmins or other high castes.

Former Cisco engineering managers Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella also are defendants in the lawsuit, which accuses them of harassment for internally enforcing the caste hierarchy.

Cisco spokeswoman Robyn Blum said the network gear maker followed its process to investigate employee concerns in this case and would “vigorously defend itself” against the lawsuit.

“Cisco is committed to an inclusive workplace for all,” she said. “We were fully in compliance with all laws as well as our own policies.”

Iyer and Kompella did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It was not immediately known if the two have retained attorneys.

The civil rights group Equality Labs in a 2018 report cited in the lawsuit found that 67% of Dalits surveyed felt treated unfairly at their U.S. workplaces.

At Cisco, the unnamed employee reported Iyer to human resources in November 2016 for outing him as a Dalit to colleagues. Iyer allegedly retaliated, but Cisco determined caste discrimination was not illegal and issues continued through 2018, the lawsuit states.

Cisco reassigned and isolated the employee, rejected a raise and opportunities that would have led to one and denied two promotions, according to the lawsuit.

Hindus traditionally grouped people into four major castes based on ancestry, and Dalits in India still struggle with access to education and jobs 65 years after India banned caste-based discrimination.

Coalition of American Ambedkarite Organizations have lent their support to the victim, pledging solidarity with him.

“We, the undersigned coalition of anti-caste organizations of North America wish to express our support and solidarity with the victim of caste-based discrimination at Cisco company,” the said. “We have been active in the anti-caste lobbying for over two decades in America. As the subcontinental population has increased exponentially over the last couple of decades, and that too in strategic positions in the American corporate bastion, our worst fears are coming true where caste plays a most decisive role in every walk of life as it is an indelible mark in the genetics of the migrants from subcontinent. We demand the private corporations and publicly funded organizations to fully embrace an anti-caste framework in their work ethic. Caste centric policy will not only help the Indian American citizens but also to its global offices wherever caste has transported with South Asian employees.”

Signed/-

Ambedkar International Center (AIC) http://www.aicusa.org

Ambedkar International Mission (AIM) http://ambedkarmission.org

Ambedkarites International Mission Society of Canada http://www.aimscanada.org/

Ambedkar Association of North America (AANA) https://www.aanausa.org

Ambedkar Buddhist Association of Texas (ABAT) http://abatusa.org

Boston Study Group (BSG) https://www.bostonstudygroup.com

Chetna Association of Canada www.chetna.ca