The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has taken legal action in a US appeals court, disputing California’s civil rights regulator’s connection of caste discrimination to Hinduism and its focus on Indian and South Asian communities. HAF asserts that the court should address the procedural obstacles that led to the dismissal of its lawsuit against the California Civil Rights Department (CRD). The foundation argues that the CRD’s approach unfairly associates caste with Hinduism and individuals of Indian or South Asian descent, thereby singling out a minority group.
HAF’s disagreement with the CRD stems from a discrimination complaint filed against Cisco Systems and two managers, accusing them of caste-based discrimination. The regulator’s actions under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act have drawn attention to the issue. HAF highlights the repeated mention of “caste” in the CRD’s complaint and criticizes the framing of caste discrimination as linked to Hindu social and religious structures.
The foundation criticizes the CRD for perpetuating stereotypes about Indians and Hindus through its enforcement strategy. Despite the removal of specific phrasing by the CRD, HAF maintains that the underlying problem persists. HAF’s Senior Legal Director, Needhy Shah, warns of broader implications beyond this case, expressing concerns about the targeting of minority groups by the CRD and the potential impact on affected communities and businesses.
HAF, represented by lead counsel Tim Travelstead, awaits the Ninth Circuit’s decision on the case’s revival, which could influence how US civil rights law addresses caste and its association with religion or ethnicity, particularly concerning Indian-origin communities. The issue of caste has become a contentious topic in certain US workplaces, notably in the technology sector with a significant South Asian presence. Advocacy groups have differing views on explicit caste protections, with concerns raised about the risk of stereotyping entire communities.
