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Castes: Discrimination

Asked by Nadia WhittomeLabourWomen and EqualitiesTabled Answered 24 April 2025UIN 45939

The question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make caste-based discrimination illegal.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

No one should suffer prejudice or discrimination on any grounds, including any perception of their caste.

The judgment of the Employment Appeal Tribunal in Tirkey v. Chandhok shows that someone claiming caste discrimination may rely on existing statutory remedies in the Equality Act 2010 where they can show that their ‘caste’ is related to their ethnic origin, which is itself an aspect of 'race' under the 2010 Act.

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