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HI am female (29), married and have a 6-months baby. I was working at a corporate sales job when I informed my employer about my pregnancy. At first, everything seemed normal, but soon after, I was put on an unfair performance review, pressured to resign, and harassed by colleagues. When I refused to resign, my salary was delayed without explanation, and my maternity leave request was ignored.
I had no choice but to **file complaints with labor authorities and women’s commissions**. Only after that, the company reluctantly credited my salary for the maternity period, but they **illegally deducted money for a company phone** that I repeatedly asked them to collect.
After my maternity leave ended, I asked them for **clarity on my employment status**. Instead of a response, they hit me with a **show-cause notice, accused me of poor performance**, and later **terminated me on false grounds**.
Now, they have **filed a criminal defamation case against me**, claiming that I called their office a drug mafia and brothel in front of their staff (which is a complete lie!). They’ve also falsely accused me of **stealing company property**, even though they deducted money for the same!
I now have a **6-month-old baby** and am being **mentally harassed with legal cases** just because I stood up for my rights.
I am stressed and don’t know what to do next. I have pending complaints at labour commission, women commmission and human rights commission but no help from anywhere.
**What should I do now? Has anyone else faced something similar? How do I fight back?**
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SGet a lawyer and send them a very strongly worded legal notice, which will show that you’ve engaged legal counsel and will not back down due to their threats and baseless allegations.
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HI don’t know how much I have to spend on lawyers fee for that. I have lost my job already, have to travel to court and police station with my 6 month baby.
I hope I can get govt. lawyers for the same. I have already applied for that.
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UWill say not only company but target the directors for criminal intimidation and worse use POSCO and molestation charges
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Make sure you put the charges on directors, to continue -
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HThey have filed the case under secion BNS 356 which is defamation. Court asked police to investigate and police reached out to me on call. I read the complaint and that is full of lies and fake stories. They are alleging that I have said foul words to Director of the company where 4 other employees were present.
Those four employees have already submitted false testimony against me in the court as an evidence. I haven’t received any legal notice or any summons as of now.
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AHow come employees have submitted the testimonies when court has not even issued the notice to you?
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HNo idea. I haven’t received any notice from the court as of now. The case was filed in Nov 2024 and preliminary witnesses have given statements on Jan 25.
I accessed all this information on the ecourt case status portal. I read the full complaint in the police station but they refused to provide a copy to me.That’s all I know as of now.
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UWhat you went through is not right and if you are in the right, the law will take your side. This “phenomena” in other countries is called “Constructive dismissal” (may not be applicable in India). Please message LLA (Labour Law advisors) on YT. They may be of help or you can ask them for references.
I am not a lawyer.
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HSure, I will try to reach LLA. I hope they notice my story,
I thought laws are on my side so filed complaints. But I never knew company can make false stories to drag me to court while they know that I have 6 months baby and I have to go everywhere taking my baby with me. My baby’s health is being compromised due to all that.
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UI completely understand and empathize with your situation. I, too, wish the world were a more equitable place, but unfortunately, it often isn’t. Many systems and corporations can be quite unfair and often times “dim-witted” people have a lot of disproportionate power at the wrong times. I believe yours too is a case where some idiots in the company without empathy and basic life values are running organizations.
Let me tell you about my story: in my previous company I worked in sales, when I was diagnosed with a head n neck tumor and eye complications, I had to balance work with numerous medical tests and treatments. However i had to get a surgery and, when I disclosed my condition to my manager, I was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan. From his perspective, he needed to demonstrate action to management for failing sales numbers and not meeting board expectations, and unfortunately for me, I became the scapegoat as i was the easiest target— I painted myself as some one who needed help and shouldnt be distrubed etc because of these conditions and guess what…despite him knowing about my medical condition and the fact that I had no health insurance outside of work he put my name forward for PIP and all that. Eventually, I was forced to resign and had to push my surgery to a point where I started a new job and proved loyalty to my new boss who gave me time off after a couple of months.
At the time, I felt humiliated and broken, and I couldn’t help but wish that those responsible, including my manager, would experience the same struggles and in a way would suffer. But over time, I came to realize that dwelling on the unfairness of it all was only holding me back. Life can be incredibly unjust and it needs to be accepted wholeheartedly. I often found myself wondering why I didn’t deserve “fruits” of life like some of my peers and friends got from their careers and life.
But in the end, I learned that moving forward was the best thing I could do for myself.
I understand that your baby is just six months old, and this is a particularly vulnerable time for you. However, the more you emphasize your situation as a young mother with a small baby, the more they may try to take advantage of it, using it as a way to undermine and discourage you. Instead, try to view them as nothing more than a childhood bully—someone who thrives on eliciting a reaction but ultimately doesn’t deserve your emotional energy. Approach the situation as objectively and unemotionally as possible, treating them as just another obstacle to navigate.
Wishing you strength and success in your fight—I truly hope you come out on top.
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UFirst thing approach to the nearest NGO s who work for women empowerment
Secondly collect all the proofs that you can get and then
File a legal complaint about harrasment regarding maternity leave in the labour court and hire the best lawyer you can get
You will win because this is completely illegal on part of the company
If possible get the media involved
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HThank you for your suggestons. I would appreciate if anyone has details of any NGO who could help in this.
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UJust google the NGO working for women in you city or state also google the women unions and labour unions like if you worked in the field of IT then there are many IT unions ask for help to them to fight the case against them
and get the media involved and take the names of those HR and Managers in public remember more the media gets involved the more they get fucked up
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PYour company will have CCTV coverage. Ask them for the day and time they allege you called the Director names. At most you will have to apologize for calling names. Don’t get worked up. This is just petty bickering, the court will concentrate on the causes of employment termination rather than name calling. And get a lawyer.
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HI am also hoping for the same. My only hope is CCTV footage. The 5 people who they claim to be present there, two out of them were not even present in the office that day. In fact, I have never met one out of them. Four have already given false testimony in the court.
But I am pretty sure that they will say CCTV footage is deleted now as the data was very old. This happened 8 months ago.
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PDo you the best thing you can do to write the same post on LinkedIn after you get the advice here.
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FFile a sexual harassment criminal complaint against the Director and those four employees in your city/state. A good lawyer will guide you further.
On the allegation of stolen company property, keep proof of emails that you sent for returning the phone as well as the amount that was deducted from your salary.
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HI never alleged sexual harrassment but mentioned that I was mentally harrassed. But their fake story made me regret on my honesty. I should have done that in my complaint.
They are alleging that company property is stolen but then said to Police that they don’t want it back because they have dedcuted 10K for that.
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SOP, contact a woman’s support NGO. They will not only accord you legal help but also possibly some therapeutic help/counselling/support. They can find you pro bono lawyers as well.
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HI am considering this option but I don’t want to involve so many people and don’t want to get famous for this issue.
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SI understand… 🙏🏾
Your employer hasn’t been using the law to get justice. They are misusing the law to harass you. So as long as you feel, peaceful, secure and confident you are anyway one step ahead of them. Some part of this peace is internal to us, but in my experience having this type of support helps— and especially so because you haven’t done anything wrong.
As far as lawyers are concerned, they are expected to preserve confidentiality for any client. And people working on women’s issues usually are more sensitive… It takes a bit of time to find suitable help, but I feel it’s worth it.
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UI am really sorry for what you are going through. This was difficult to read and the level of retaliation is horrible.
I am not a lawyer, just my 2 cents. People will tell you to find the best advocate, go to NGOs , media etc , file counter cases and all, all are good advice. However, when it comes to situations like this, it’s not about who is right or has justice on their side. It’s always about who has deeper pockets, connections , time and energy to fight.
These are cases that will drag on for years . Advocates don’t come cheap. Even mediocre level lawyers will cost 50k just to start representing you and costs will increase as the case moves forward. A good lawyer experienced in these areas will cost higher and you should be ready to spend few lakhs. Spend time and energy between courts, police station, NGOs, labour commission etc. Please take time and think if you will be able to put up a long fight.
I would advise to get a lawyer and setup a mediation with the aggrevated parties and discuss terms for out of court settlement/closure. They’ll probably demand you withdraw the complaints filed with women and labour commission in return for them dropping their cases. If that’s what it comes to, better agree and move on with your life.
Such complaint records will heavily damage the company’s reputation and they will fight till they wear you down and till you fold. You may continue the fight to justice but think if you are up for it and if it will be worth it at the end of all this. Make a decision that will work in the best interests of your family. I hope you find a way out of this tough situation.
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PLawyer here. This looks like the best option for OP. Apply to court for case to be referred to mediation. If mediator agrees, you can even get on Video Conference and save commuting time and be with your child. I concur with this person’s opinion .such cases will sap your energy and go nowhere. Mediation will help smoothen and shorten the process and both parties can go home in peace.
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HThe company management have ego issues. First time they were compelled to pay maternity benefits to a women. They are angry because of that. Earlier, they simpally terminate the female employees who got pregnant.
I don’t think they will agree for mediation. Police tried to do mediation but they denied to meet me. I have done nothing and I have nothing to give them.
How mediation can help when sole purpose of the complaintant is to harrass someone?
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VIn house counsel here.
You seem to have a strong case.
Don’t worry about the defamation case it won’t stand.
Maternity benefit Act provides you with reasonable protection.
You simply need to lawyer up.
Find someone who is passionate about women empowerment or reach out to a NGO.
Check if your organization has any political affiliation if yes go to the rival party and ask them for help.
And lastly do not forget to Name and Shame them..
There can be no defamation case against you if you are simply narrating the facts.
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HYes, they have political connections with big leaders. Trying to get a lawyer who can quash the case in high court.
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S🚨 You can follow the following line of action to get it resolved fast :
Counter the Defamation Case:
File counter-complaint under BNS §196 (false charges) if employer lacks digital proofs (BSA §61).
Seek FIR quashing via BNSS §530(1) in High Court.
Recover Illegal Deductions:
Use Payment of Wages Act + BSA §48 for wage claims.
Submit written proof of phone return attempts (BNSS §57).
Fight Termination:
Cite Maternity Benefit Act §12 + Industrial Disputes Act §33.
Compare pre/post-pregnancy performance data (BSA §29).
⚖️ Retaliation Response:
File BNS §85 (cruelty) complaint for mental harassment with medical reports + witness statements.
🔐 Must-Do’s:
✔️ Preserve HR emails, salary slips, SMS (BNSS §63 evidence)
✔️ Escalate via Labour Commission’s e-Adalat portal
✔️ Verify if POSH ICC exists and termination followed BNSS §63 notice
🎯 Pro Move:
File Article 226 petition in High Court to combine:
» Defamation quashing + Salary recovery + Job reinstatement📞 Free Help:
NALSA (15100) / Women’s Helpline (181)
💡 Baby-Friendly Options:
Request virtual hearings (BNSS §62)
Seek expedited process under BNSS §346
Stay strong! Employers can’t weaponize courts post-2024 reforms. Document EVERYTHING via email/SMS.
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BIndustrial Laws and Contract Acts are taken from the British Era’s colonel Time. The laws were prepared to protect British companies.
Many Laws in India need to be changed but who cares.
During COVID-19 , there was a directive from the Government of India that nobody should be terminated from the job . I was ousted by my company during My COVID-19 sufferings, I tried the Labour commissioner office and several central government departments including PMO, No listening- I filed a court case, Case running from 4 years ( I guess 30% art of case is covered) I feel I am wasting my time and money, No one cares or listen- Just getting next dates for nothing.Laws can’t be changed because no political party is suffering, No Big industry is suffering not the government is suffering.
If Adani incurred little financial losses, The rules would have been amended overnight.I hate my India.
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