Can Company Reject Notice Buyout Request And Force Employee To Serve Notice Period.

Dear All,

Recently I got very good offer and my new company wants me to join within in 30 days. However, as per my offer letter I need to serve 60 days notice in my present company.

I am ready to pay salary in lieu of notice period shortfall still my supervisor is not reliving and want me to server full 60 days notice else he will hold my reliving letter.

My offer letter states that “This contract of employment is terminable, without reasons, by either party giving one month notice during probationary period and two months notice on confirmation. Company reserves the right to pay or recover salary in lieu of notice period. Further, the Company may at its discretion relieve you from such date as it may deem fit even prior to the expiry of the notice period.”

Please help me to get the answers of the following questions...

Qus1: Can a company legally hold my reliving letter even when I am ready for notice buyout?
Qus2: Can my present company file case against my new company if I join them without relieving letter.
Qus3: What are the chances if I file a court case?

1) The companycan hold the reliving letter. But there will be no legal status on this.
2) Since the clause does not mention paying of salary in lieu of notice, the supervisor is right in making you to work for 60 days. However they may not file a case against your new company as this has no stake in your employment with the present company.
3) You do not stand a strong case in view of the offer letter clause of your present company. How ever your lawyer may argue that the employment contract was one sided.
Kind regards
Dayanand L Guddin