Caste discrimination 2015 new laws

Louise Walker
Legal Director
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Caste systems involve the division of people into a hierarchy of social groups (castes) where the assignment of rights and privileges is hereditary and determined by birth. They are most common in cultures emanating from the Indian sub-continent.

At the moment, as determined by the Employment Appeal Tribunal in December 2014 in the case of Chandhok v Tirkey, caste is protected under the Equality Act 2010 only where it is part of a protected characteristic (usually ethnic origin).

However, following a period of consultation by the UK Government in 2014, new laws are expected to be enacted during 2015 to provide that caste discrimination is unlawful.

Topics: Discrimination