Rare Caste Bias Case Advances, Raising Calls for Federal Action

Federal workplace civil rights agencies remain silent on the issue of caste discrimination as a former Cisco engineer’s lawsuit will proceed in open court rather than arbitration.

A California state court will weigh in on a case from a former Cisco Systems Inc. worker who’s made a claim of caste discrimination—one of the first of its kind. Meanwhile, federal agencies like the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have remained silent on the issue, even as caste equity groups have pushed for support.

The ex-worker claims he was a victim of discrimination because of his low caste standing. The unnamed ...