Hyderabad: HC issues notice to Tech Mahindra over ex-employee’s plea for relieving letter

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has issued a notice to Tech Mahindra in response to a petition filed by a former employee, V Balakrishna, seeking a relieving letter, which he claimed is his ‘legal right.’ The writ petition was heard on October 25, with the next hearing scheduled for November 8.

Balakrishna, who joined Tech Mahindra in November 2023 as an associate technical support on the U1 Band, alleged he was informed in February 2024 that he did not pass the required exam and his last working day was on February 28.

The petitioner approached the joint commissioner of labour

However, he was not provided with a relieving letter, a document required for future employment. In April 2024, Balakrishna approached the joint commissioner of labour (JCL), Ranga Reddy District, for assistance.

Despite several notices and meetings, the JCL eventually directed him to seek a resolution from another forum.

Following this, Balakrishna’s legal counsel, advocate Vijay Gopal, issued a notice to Tech Mahindra on July 29, requesting the relieving letter.

Tech Mahindra did respond with a letter, but Balakrishna contended it was issued in a ‘discriminatory format,’ unlike the standard format provided to other employees.

‘Certificate of Service’ is the employee’s right

According to Gopal, the differentiation is a form of harassment, and he argued that a ‘Certificate of Service’ is a statutory right under the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act of 1946, along with the associated rules.

Advocate Gopal told NewsMeter that the issue extended beyond the individual case, highlighting a broader problem in the private sector.

“Apart from TechM, 99 per cent of private firms are harassing employees in India to provide relieving letters, sometimes asking for money ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 2 lakhs. They are aware that the employee cannot secure the next job without the said relieving letter,” said Gopal.

He further criticised the labour commissioner’s office, claiming that their inaction and tolerance of such practices enables this alleged extortion.

“This extortion tactic is strengthened by the silence and condonation of the labour commissioner’s office, which does not act or punish the culprits despite receiving hundreds of complaints. Hopefully, the High Court will take necessary action, and we will get justice,” he added.

In response to the petition, the Telangana High Court has ordered Tech Mahindra, along with the JCL and the labour commissioner of Telangana, to clarify their position on the matter.