Gopal*, a young judicial officer from North India, says caste is shaping both formal and informal aspects of the judiciary, affecting recruitment, workplace interactions and career progression.
“They operate under the assumption that I am not as knowledgeable and hard-working as my upper caste colleagues,” he told DW. Gopal belongs to Dalit community.
He said that although Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates often perform well in written examinations, many are given low grades in interviews, which affects their final ranking. These rankings determine promotions, postings, and additional responsibilities, reinforcing long-standing inequalities.
Dalits, classified as a Scheduled Caste under the Constitution of India, have historically faced marginalization within the caste system. According to the 2011 census, they constitute about 16.6% of the population, and are entitled to affirmative action measures such as quotas in education and public employment.
caste bias in the workplace
Gopal said caste dynamics are visible in everyday professional settings beyond recruitment.
Informal interactions often include expressions of caste pride, while social networks and marriages within the judiciary largely follow caste lines. He said questions about his missing surname are often aimed at identifying his caste.
“The judges’ association election was fought on the basis of caste. If you pay attention to it, it is everywhere, but if you don’t pay attention to it, it is nowhere,” he said.
Gopal said that although legal safeguards against caste discrimination exist, their effectiveness is limited in professional fields.
He believes there is scope for affirmative action, suggesting:
- Expansion of caste-based reservation in promotion
- Creating institutional mechanisms similar to workplace harassment bodies to resolve caste-related complaints
Gopal said that caste discrimination has evolved instead of ending.
“The practice of untouchability has changed its form,” he said, citing workplace practices such as food-based segregation and the continued emphasis on endogamy and caste identity.
He said, “Overall, they have successfully replicated the caste system in the service. I don’t see much change in the coming decades.”
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the interviewee
This feature is part of DW’s special coverage 135th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar And Dalit History Month.