Community › Forums › Legal Advice India › My company asking for 3 months pay to leave while they not even provided pf and the salary is 10k/month…my original degree certificate is with them
- This topic has 35 replies, 25 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 2 months ago by
Saurabhtiger426.
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AAkashmaster689
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 2:14 pmI know this salary is very low for a developer, but it’s a Tier 2 city, and they promised a lot of things, like a pay raise in six months and more.Now, I have a better opportunity to switch, but my current company is asking for three months’ salary to leave; only then will they return my degree certificate.
The thing is, they provide PF to employees only after 1 or 2 years. Before that, they give the salary in hand in a white envelope – I am receiving in white envelope till now.
This company has around 150+ employees, but only 40 of them receive their salary in a bank with PF. I know this because they have a separate attendance sheet to sign every day.
Now, coming to my problem—I need to leave this company, but should I pay them three months’ worth of salary (₹30k) to get my certificate back, or is there a legal way to deal with this situation?
They make me work excessively from 9 to 6, including Saturdays. I am under a lot of stress and cannot continue with the two-year bond period.
I have completed 1 year and 1 month so far.
I need suggestions.
Thanks in advance
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LLakshmihero956
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 2:28 pmLooks like you were not an official employee of the company at all and more like a contract employee! Did you receive a formal offer letter? Do you have access to the company mail ID? We need more details to understand the scenario better.But the way you described it, they can’t do shit if you don’t pay them the 3 month salary except for keeping hard copies of your degree. Which I hope you have scanned in good quality, if you didn’t, that’s plain stupid. I haven’t had a company asking for my degree in the last 3 job switches. Most would be satisfied with a scanned copy and do background checks if needed.
A lot of universities also have an option to obtain another original and it would cost a lot less than 30k for sure.
To summarize, don’t pay them anything. Just leave.
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AAkashmaster689
OP
March 31, 2025 at 2:45 pmI Didn’t received offer letter they just asked me to join as soon as possible when i completed interview. I don’t have official mail id.I do have copies, i gave them my original certificate the same day I got it ( convocation day ) but first I went to a shop and scanned with High quality and then submitted original.
Ah man i hate these types of companies i can’t believe i worked here for 1 year
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FFiercepanda7497
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 7:31 pmAlways have an email trail or written document
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BBravefox3388
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 3:07 pmApply for a Police Complaint that you have lost your certificates and apply for duplicate from the college / university. As filling a complaint against the company would take a long time before the verdict comes out.-
SSilentsahil4944
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 9:15 pmAgreeShow them the police complaint and say, you will get a new certificate either way.
So they can be nice or you’ll just name and shame them
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PPradeepseeker111
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 3:09 pmNo company is allowed to take ur original certificates. Threaten them with legal action.-
LLuckypanda2667
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 6:07 pmThis.. i am surprised to see this isn’t at the top. -
LLuckypanda2667
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 6:07 pmThis.. i am surprised to see this isn’t at the top.
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LLuckykaur5182
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 3:31 pmIs there any written proof of the company receiving or asking for your certificates or demanding 3 months pay for returning the certificates?If yes, write to the labor commissioner.
Also, in parallel, apply for a duplicate certificate.Is your new company asking for the degree certificate?
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AAkashmaster689
OP
March 31, 2025 at 3:51 pmMy new company asking only copy so it’s not a problem, only problem is 30k which my current company asking-
LLuckykaur5182
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 4:08 pmWrite to the labor commissioner and leave the company without notice, they can’t do sh!t.You can always get a copy of your certificates which will be totally acceptable everywhere.
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AAravhero991
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 4:13 amDon’t even bother then. If you have a copy thats sufficient. All future companies will conduct background checks and at best if they have a need to verify they will call university registrar office to verify you were a registered student there. No one looks at the damn degree certificate. I dont think I have shown original one to any company ever.
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SSwiftgirish7560
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 3:37 pmGive details to chatgpt, draft a legal notice with proper violations and mail them officially to return your documents and FNF or you will take legal action. This should be enough. -
DDhruvguy48
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 4:00 pmGo ahead and leave the company. Honestly, I have never needed my original degree certificate for jobs so far but if you’re worried about it just get a duplicate one from the university citing that you have lost it.You have a legal case against this company, but given the amount you’d probably win from it, it’s not worth fighting in our courts.
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SSaurabhtiger426
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 4:01 pmDo they have concept of notice period or every employee needs to pay money to release their docs?-
AAkashmaster689
OP
March 31, 2025 at 5:00 pmThose who working without pf if they need to leave they have to pay moneyThose who get pf have notice period ( only people working more than 2 years get pf in this company )
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SSaurabhtiger426
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 5:03 pmSo this was informed and made very clear when you joined? Also what’s the notice period duration of the ones getting pf? 3 months?-
AAkashmaster689
OP
March 31, 2025 at 5:08 pmNo I was not informed by the company, I got to know things once joined from other employees.My company actually do “divide and conquer” they don’t let employees share contact and even say don’t talk with each other. Just do work and go home .
Yes 3 month’s np for employees with pf
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SSaurabhtiger426
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 5:14 pmHolding orignal documents is a very unethical practice, you in the first place should not have accepted this. Anyways, since they are asking an equivalent of 3 months notice period and you get a chance to leave immediately, i suggest give them the money and join the new company immediately. I personally feel you are in a more profitable position by doing this.Don’t make the mistake of giving your orignal to anyone the next time.
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MMegaprashant4593
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 4:23 pmInteresting place. You are technically not on their payroll or at best have almost daily wage earner status. You most likely are tagged as a contract worker, hence no benefits.
First, I hope you have an appointment letter. If you have verify that both the company and you are compliant.Next never hand in your originals beyond the 5-10 minutes that someone may need to see them. If they want a copy offer them a certified copy.
Wrt to your employer, ask them to provide you a letter in writing so that you can show your future employer, the reason for the delay. Please ask them to list the amount requested as well, so that you can check if the next employer will give you an advance. Plus if they can give you a certified copy , ie, with clear name, title and stamp or seal of company. This will allow the next company to atleast know you are a genuine applicant.
Once you have secured this, it will validate, that you are employed, and what your compensation is, plus the company is holding your certificates.
After this you have plenty of options. You can politely ask them to give your certificates, else you will file a case with the police and labour commission. You can also inform them, that you will keep reaching out to their clients informing about their employment practices which will result in them losing their business. You can also always get a duplicate from the university.
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FFierceumesh807
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 4:43 pmI agree , once you have even a single doc that’s proved you were paid for your work there, they are done
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PPrimeamrita9352
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 4:40 pmLet them keep it, use digi locker issued degree certificates. -
EExpertfox7187
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 6:02 pmIf it is 3 months notice period. Then tell them you will leave the job after 3 months. Till then join other company. -
AAlphayashoda245
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 6:14 pmYou’ll have to comply as far as I know. I was in a MNC and when I got a better opportunity, I didn’t complete my notice period and neither had I completed my bond period. I paid the company the base pay for the 2nd month of the notice period and the bond amount in order to get my experience letter basically. This is a personal choice for you but I won’t recommend leaving your original documents with a company to abscond. -
UUditking810
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 7:44 pmHow dumb are you to give your original certificates in the first place!?!??! -
VVanshthinker237
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 9:54 pmWhy would you hand over your degree certificate to a company? That should have been a blaring red flag and OP should have run away. Is this new Dubai type slavery business in India where companies are holding your degree hostage just like Dubai slavers do with their passports? -
NNiravtiger354
PARTICIPANT
March 31, 2025 at 11:17 pmIf you have proofs of salary given in cash. Separate register entries, and originals being asked on email/message.
File a complaint to labour commissioner. -
DDesilion8606
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 3:37 amWhy u have given them ur original degree and certificate?-
AAkashmaster689
OP
April 1, 2025 at 8:11 amAt that time , just when i graduated i thought it’s normal to give original certificate to company. I didn’t know about corporate world at that time…-
IIndianshagun351
PARTICIPANT
April 2, 2025 at 11:31 amNever give original certificate to anyone, give them certified duplicates, what this company is doing is illegal and straight blackmail don’t give into that.
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SShreyaseeker789
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 8:16 amFile a complaint on labour department online. They will come to your house and hand you over your documents. -
EEpicowl9962
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 3:09 pmwith 10k pm leaving is the default action. why you pay? also which company? -
IIndianshagun351
PARTICIPANT
April 2, 2025 at 11:28 amYou can get your certificate from digi locker, and it’s accepted every where , what your company is doing is bonded labour and that js illegal my advise get duplicate documents and then leave. -
MMeganinja2974
PARTICIPANT
April 2, 2025 at 5:12 pmI am not a lawyer so this is not legal advice but life experience advice.This company is full of crooks and are unlawfully withholding your certificate. There is no law that demands them to take 3 months worth of salary or keep your originals.
Plainly said- they are bullies and control freaks. So, you should under no circumstance give them the money, but bully them back by complaining against them to the police. It might lead to nothing but they might get harassed, which is good.
Next point, your degree certificate matters nowhere if you keep switching jobs because all companies conduct background checks or worst comes to worst- they ask for copies to keep on file. I worked for 5 years in corporate, except for my first job, no one asked me for my certificate. Tbh I don’t even know where it is because it doesn’t matter.
Chalk it up to a lesson and move on. Hold your head high, take the new job and best of luck!
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AAkashmaster689
OP
April 2, 2025 at 5:18 pmYes mam, thanks for the advice
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