Cisco Caste Discrimination Suit Dismissed by California Agency

California regulators voluntarily dismissed their lawsuit accusing Cisco Systems Inc. and two of its employees of discriminating against an Indian engineer based on his lower caste, or place in the South Asian hierarchical social system.

The engineer, identified anonymously as John Doe, is a member of the Dalit population, also known as the “Untouchables.” In June, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued Cisco on the worker’s behalf, alleging he was paid less, given fewer opportunities, and experienced inferior conditions at work because of his caste status. The discrimination allegedly took place at Cisco’s headquarters in San Jose, ...