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SI joined TCS in August 2024 under the Ninja profile, which includes a ₹50,000 bond if an employee leaves before completing one year. On February 1st, I was involved in a road accident that left me with multiple injuries, including a fractured left wrist. A few days later, I informed my manager about the incident.
Despite my condition, I was pressured to send an email about the accident and apply for a week’s leave. When I requested Work From Home (WFH), my bundle lead demanded a strict 9-hour daily work report, failing which I would be marked as on Leave Without Pay (LWP). HR told me I could either take my full 15-day annual leave in advance or go on LWP. With no better option, I agreed to WFH.
However, even as a trainee and in recovery, I was treated harshly, and working with one hand became extremely difficult. Eventually, I had no choice but to go on LWP for two months.
At that time, my salary was ₹23,000, and with no income, it became impossible to manage living expenses in Mumbai. Fortunately, a relative offered me a place to stay. During those two months, I decided to resign and focus on other priorities. But now, HR is insisting that I pay the ₹50,000 bond amount or face legal action.
I haven’t received a salary for three months, and due to my family’s financial condition, I’m unable to pay this amount. I’ve explained my situation, but they continue to insist on the payment.
Is there any way I can be exempted from paying the bond, given the medical emergency and financial hardship? I would really appreciate your help.
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CAll that is meaningless with regards to a bond. Bonds are illegal regardless of what the docs may say.
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PIt cannot be terned illegal ..such a clause is included for welfare of employers and their institutions.. cant be said to be against public policy, unless the amount is unreasonable and arbitrary (much beyond resources spent in training the employee). So to understand the demand of the employer and for a lawyer like me to reply or counter it..docs are needed. Also companies like this have seen many instances like this and must be knowing how to tackle them.Such things are best negotiated across the table.
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DBonds are illegal. At the max they can stop your experience letter. Other than that, they can move to court or you can. Bond that you signed is not valid in India. Happened a long time back with me, I took my salary and then stopped going. Nothing happened till date
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SI want to join other company (in other domain) and they want the relieving letter.Also i have company’s assets
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AWhat TCS is doing is probably borderline illegal. See <https://vaishalibhagwat.com/are-employment-bonds-legal-in-india.php> for some information.
Fail to understand why Rotten had (has?) such a huge fan following.
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MHave you had any major training from them ?
They can only ask for that training cost from you nothing extra.If they can show that clearly and that amount to 50k then go outside and ask around that training worth in rupees value then one cand decide he same.
If not proof is shown they payed for training it is illegal.
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Snot any major training apart from first 3 months i was in ILP during that time they taught us JAVA and took exam after that we were assigned to the project
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MWhat is the Java training cost outside ?
I can give you example –
My company got a bond signed of 1lakh and they said that they will train us in a certain software and for them cost of training is 1 lakh.
Now when I left the company they asked the same amount ie 1lakh from me I refused and told them that the training is far less outside for the same software ie 30k
They threaten me with legal case I was lucky that the next company I joined I was given services of in house lawyer ie zero charge who advised me to pay them value of the training ie 30k to them and he send a legal notice to them for the same.Matter was settled as he also said that courts would also say the same but if you go in courts company will not also get this amount as it takes time and court are soft on employees and might deduct a legal fee from 30k and your company will get far less then the amount they spend.
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BLawyer here, based in Delhi.
A lot of advice here is incorrect or oversimplified. Bonds in private employment are not inherently illegal in India. Courts have held that they are enforceable, but only to the extent that the company can show actual loss, such as documented training expenses or breach of specific service terms.
If the ₹50,000 bond was for training and your appointment letter clearly states the condition that you must serve a minimum term, then TCS can try to recover that amount. However, the amount must be reasonable and must reflect actual costs incurred, not arbitrary penalties. Courts generally do not support excessive or punitive claims.
That said, your medical emergency and the fact that you were placed on Leave Without Pay can be a valid defence if the company initiates legal action. It also strengthens your position to negotiate a waiver or settlement. But do not assume that “bonds are illegal” and ignore their notice. You should respond formally, stating your situation and your willingness to return company assets and resolve the matter amicably.
Also, if the relieving letter is important for your next job, you may want to offer to return any dues proportionate to actual training costs, if those are clearly stated and reasonable. But first, get your appointment letter and bond terms reviewed by a lawyer before agreeing to pay or ignoring their claim.
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SHi OP – training bonds are only valid if your employer can prove they spent significant money on your training. Otherwise they cant enforce it and its quite impractical to enforce anyway. Write an email to the hr marking the legal team if you can – narrate the facts that led you to taking LWP (also mention that you took LWP on your HRs instructions since you needed 15+ days to manage your injuries). Say that you have thereafter decided to resign, you are ready to serve your notice period and hand over the assets and leave. However state that the demand for bond payment is untenable under law and you will not be paying the same. Your employers are also obliged to give you a service certificate under law – state this in the email too.
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AAs someone who is aware of this company’s policies. This js what I would do.
1. Talk to HR and ask that you go on a longer LWP due to the medical condition.
2. Based on that, revoke your resignation.
3. Quit again after you’ve crossed the 1yr contract period for the bond
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Sthis is a smart move but i am not sure they will give me longer LWP also i am joining a new company from next month and they might ask for relieving letter
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RWait, did you get your LWP applied in Ultimatix? You are supposed to send a mail to your HR (get the details from Ultimatix again) and look into that it is applied. If you do not join back then you turn in your resignation.
Also there are no bonds in TCS. Probably they are asking for the training compensation, they ask for 50k if you resign within 1 year. -
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