Cisco still faces caste bias suit; engineers' case dismissed

The California Civil Rights Department has dismissed its caste discrimination lawsuit against two Cisco engineers. The lawsuit alleged that Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella, two high-caste men of Indian descent, harassed and discriminated against the lower-caste or Dalit engineer. The lawsuit against Cisco is still ongoing and a mediation conference has been scheduled for May 2. Some Hindu groups are viewing this move as a victory and vindication for the two engineers. Dalit advocates, who are pushing for the passage of legislation in California to include caste in anti-discrimination laws, say despite this move, the Cisco case continues to empower the marginalized.