Hindu American Foundation Appeals Dismissal in Caste Discrimination Case
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Hindu American Foundation has asked a federal appeals court to revive its lawsuit against California’s civil rights regulator, arguing that the agency has improperly linked caste discrimination to Hinduism and unfairly targeted Indian and South Asian communities.
In a reply brief filed April 6 with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the foundation said a lower court wrongly dismissed its case against the California Civil Rights Department without addressing the substance of its claims. The group is seeking to remove what it described as procedural barriers that prevented full judicial review.
HAF contends that the agency’s enforcement approach “explicitly and implicitly links ‘caste’ to Hinduism and people of Indian or South Asian descent,” effectively singling out a minority community.
The dispute stems from a high-profile complaint filed by the California Civil Rights Department against Cisco Systems and two managers, alleging caste-based discrimination under the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act. The agency publicly stated it had “Sue(d) Cisco Systems, Inc. and Former Managers For Caste-Based Discrimination.”
According to HAF, the regulator reinforced its position by asserting that Cisco should have prevented caste discrimination “occurring within its South Asian Indian workforce,” and repeatedly referenced caste in its complaint.
The foundation argues that the agency’s framing relies on “racist and demonstrably false tropes” about Indians and Hindus, including an earlier claim describing India’s caste system as “a strict Hindu social and religious hierarchy.”
Although the department has since removed that phrasing and said the issue is moot, HAF maintains that the underlying concerns remain unresolved.
“Removing the phrase ‘Hindu social and religious hierarchy’ doesn’t change the fact that the CRD is attempting to direct ‘caste’ policies solely at the company’s Indian, South Asian, and Hindu workforce,” the foundation said.
Needhy Shah, the foundation’s senior legal director, said the case could have broader implications for minority communities in the United States.
“The Hindu American, Indian American, and South Asian American communities are concerned, and if they aren’t, they should be,” Shah said. “The CRD is attempting to wield its enforcement powers by singling out the very minority groups it is charged to protect. Californians are paying attention, and so are employers and businesses regulated by the CRD.”
She added, “The CRD is playing caste cop, blaming caste discrimination on Hinduism, and it’s only a matter of time until they identify their next Hindu target.”
The foundation is represented by lead counsel Tim Travelstead of Narayan Travelstead Ku P.C.
The Ninth Circuit’s decision on whether to reinstate the case could shape how U.S. civil rights law addresses caste and its potential links to religion or ethnicity, particularly for Indian-origin communities.
Caste discrimination has become an increasingly debated issue in parts of the United States, especially in technology sector workplaces with significant South Asian representation. Some advocacy groups have called for explicit protections against caste-based bias, while others warn such measures could lead to broad stereotyping of communities. (Source: IANS)
