Released Immediately After Resignation: Do I Owe Notice Pay Without Salary?

I put my resignation on Feb 3rd and was released on the very same date as the company didn't want me to continue as I was on the bench. Now, the company is asking me to pay the bond amount plus the notice pay recovery amount. Should I have to pay this notice pay recovery amount as I didn't receive any salary for the notice period (which is from Feb 3rd to March 3rd) since I was released by the company before that? Does this notice pay amount actually mean the basic pay during that one-month period?

I believe you are being taken for a ride. What was the content that you put in the resignation letter, any idea?

Notice Pay and Voluntary Release

If the company has voluntarily relieved you, then they cannot ask you to pay notice pay. You were willing to work, but they did not want you to work. They relieved you to save on the salary cost. How can they ask you to pay for notice pay? I assume you were ready to serve the notice period.

Reply to them, giving details clearly showing that they relieved you and you were willing to work.

Please note the following:

1. In your resignation letter, what was the date of relieving that you requested? If the company relieved you before the date you had requested, they cannot recover the "notice pay" amount from you.

2. What is the provision of the "Notice Period" in your appointment letter? If you requested early relief (before completing the notice period mentioned in the appointment letter), you are bound to pay the notice pay amount.

3. Have you signed any "Bond"? If yes, you are generally governed by its terms.

Regards,
Shailesh Parikh
Vadodara, Gujarat
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

Thank you for your replies. I was actually not ready to serve the notice period as I wanted to prepare for my studies. So, I mentioned in the resignation letter that I could only proceed with further procedures by March 3rd. I had planned to pay the notice period after receiving the salary for that specific period along with the bond amount. However, they released me on the same date. During this period, I was on the bench.

As far as the notice pay is concerned, yes, Saswata is right in saying that they can claim that from you. However, regarding the bond amount, it all depends on the law of the land, and we should determine if the bond is legally valid and enforceable. Please answer these simple questions to enable us to analyze your situation:

1. What is the Bond Amount?
2. Did they give you any sort of training in lieu of the bond?
3. If yes, did they inform you in advance before the training that they would get the bond signed from you in lieu of the training imparted?

Waiting for your answer.