Caste Based Discrimination In HCL? Lawsuit Filed In US Against HCL For Discriminatory Firing Over Caste

India’s leading IT services firm HCL Technolgy is in trouble over caste-based discrimination. A former employee from India has file a case against HCL over this issue.

After Cisco, this is the 2nd caste-based discrimination lawsuit filed in the US, and in both the cases, an Indian is the victim.

This is what has happened.

Caste-Based Discrimination In HCL?

As per MoneyControl, an unnamed Indian employee working with HCL’s US unit has filed a lawsuit against HCL US, over caste-based discrimination, and firing.

The victim, assuming his name as Vikram, has alleged that his superior Srinivas Chakravarty discriminated against him, and fired him over caste-based issues.

The case was filed by Vikram in superior court in California, on March 25th.

The lawsuit stated, “Substantial motivating factors for … termination of employment were, without limitation, his ethnicity (including as it relates to caste), race, national origin, ancestry, religious creed and/or color, and/or any such perceived characteristics, and/or his association with members of such protected classes, as well as his complaints about discrimination within the company,”

HCL Technologies, the parent company of HCL American hasn’t yet responded.

The lawsuit was filed after obtaining a ‘right to sue letter’ from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH).

The Case Of Caste Based Discrimination

As per the lawsuit, which has been read by MoneyControl, Vikram belongs to a community called Kapu Naidu, while his superior Srinivas belonged to Kamma Naidu community. 

Both Kapu and Kamma Naidu communities are fighting since 1980s, when riots broke out at Vijayawada region of Andhra Pradesh. 

As per the lawsuit, 40 people had died, and over Rs 100 crore worth of properties were damaged in these riots.

Due to the same reason, the animosity spilled over at HCL US office between Vikram and Srininas, and due to this reason, Srinivas made sure that Vikram is terminated from the job. He used to shout at Vikram at team meetings, and deliberately gave poor performance ratings. And even called him ‘black’.

As per the lawsuit, Vikram complained to his managers and other superior officials from HCL, but no action was taken.

It seems that Srinivas was fired, soon after the lawsuit was filed, along with other managers who didn’t take any action against Srinivas.

We will keep you updated, as more details come in.