Bengaluru: What began as a resignation over health concerns turned into a legal battle over exit norms at a tech firm in Marathahalli. A city civil court restrained a senior employee from interfering with the company’s operations and from joining another organisation without completing exit formalities.The dispute involves a software company, based in Kundalahalli Gate, and its 30-year-old employee Srijesh P (name changed) from Uttarahalli, who was working for the company since 2012 and was designated as director of technology in 2021. According to the records, Srijesh sent an email on Jan 14, 2021, resigning from his position, citing family problems and medical issues. The company contended that being a senior-level employee, he was governed by its HR policy, which required a two-year notice period and completion of exit formalities, including handover of responsibilities, knowledge transfer and signing of exit documents. The firm alleged that Srijesh did not comply and failed to complete exit formalities. The firm further alleged that he attempted to leave the organisation without serving the notice period and sought to join another company. It issued a legal notice dated April 16, 2021, calling upon him to serve the notice period or pay about Rs 46.8 lakh towards notice period compensation. It subsequently filed a civil suit on April 19, 2021, seeking a permanent injunction to restrain him from interfering with its business and from joining another company without complying with exit norms.Srijesh, in his defence, admitted he was employed with the company since 2012 and had resigned on Jan 14, 2021. However, he denied that he was bound by any HR policy requiring a two-year notice period. He contended that his appointment letter dated April 24, 2012, stipulated that either party could terminate the employment by giving two months’ notice, and that he had not agreed to any additional conditions. He further stated he worked sincerely throughout his tenure and that the work pressure in the company led to health issues, including back pain, high blood pressure and diabetes, which prompted his decision to resign. He also denied allegations of misconduct and interference, and contested the company’s claims regarding non-compliance with exit obligations. After going through all the documents and hearing both sides, the court observed the firm failed to prove that the employee was liable to give a two-year notice period before exiting. At the same time, it found that the company had established that the employee could not join another company without complying with exit formalities as per its HR policy. The court also noted the employee had not produced sufficient evidence to disprove the company’s records or substantiate his claims to the extent required.The XLIII Additional City Civil and Sessions Court on March 23 restrained Srijesh, his agents or any person claiming through him from interfering with the company’s officials in carrying out their duties or causing any disturbance to its business. The court further restrained him from joining any other company without complying with the exit formalities.
