How Should My Friend Handle the Risk of Signing a Blank Paper at a New Job?

Dear All My Seniors,

Please understand this issue and suggest the best solution with your legal view.

One of my friends joined a Government-Aided school as a Bed Teacher on a Government-Aided Post. The management took signatures on many joining formalities, including one BLANK PAPER, by saying:

"It will be printed as an application, and now the letter language format is not available. We will take the format from the Education Department in Chandigarh and then print it there. It will be submitted to the head office of the Aided Branch in Chandigarh. Therefore, you may sign on the blank paper because Chandigarh is far away from here. Why should the staff make an extra trip for a single signature? A copy of the same format should be given to you."

After that, no issue was found. However, when my friend asked about a photocopy of the same, the management refused, saying: "We have submitted it to the Education Department without having a copy of that application."

From the Management Representative's attitude, it is clear that the SIGNED BLANK PAPER was not submitted anywhere with any application. The management is carrying the signed blank paper.

If my friend makes a complaint to the police, it could be harmful because he is on probation for a period of two years.

Steps Taken by My Friend

My friend wrote a letter to the management about this issue, but the management refused to accept the letter and started mentally tormenting over minor details. After my friend expressed regret to the management, they began behaving normally.

The problem here is that my friend cannot make any complaints against the management anywhere, such as the police, education department, or any other place.

Please suggest the best solution for the same.

[QUOTE=ashok.jangra;2164057]Dear All My Seniors, Please understand this issue and suggest the best solution with your legal view. One of my friends joined a Government-Aided school as a Bed Teacher on a Government-Aided Post. The management took signatures on many joining formalities, including one BLANK PAPER, by saying:

"It will be printed as an application, and now the letter language format is not available. We take the format from the Education Department Chandigarh and then print it here and submit it to the head office of the Aided Branch Chandigarh. So, you may sign on the blank paper because Chandigarh is far away from here. Why make extra travel for staff for a single signature, and a copy of the same format should be given to you?"

After this, there were no issues found, but when my friends asked for a photocopy of the same, the management refused by saying: "We submitted it to the Education Department without having a copy of that application."

By the Management Representative's attitude, it is clear that the SIGNED BLANK PAPER was not submitted anywhere with any application. The management is carrying the signed blank paper.

If my friends make a complaint to the police, it could be harmful to them because he is on probation for a period of two years.

STEPS TAKEN BY MY FRIENDS:

My friends wrote a letter to the management about this, but the management refused to accept this letter and started mentally torturing them over very small things. After my friends apologized to the management, they began to act normally towards them.

The problem here is that my friends cannot make any complaints against the management anywhere, like to the police, the education department, or any other place.

Can he take these steps now?

1. Make a police complaint that his blank signed paper has been lost at the School Premises or on the way to the school with the school ID card.

2. Make a press note in a national newspaper regarding the loss of these papers along with any other document photocopies.

Please suggest the best solution for the same.

Ashok

As Mr. Nair has rightly said, get in the good books of the management, as your friend has already committed a mistake. Try to build the confidence of the top management and tactfully get a photocopy of the format typed on the blank paper your friend signed.

Your predicament is very sensitive now. Having just joined, it's very difficult for you to take a stern stand with your company. However, I understand your anxiety. All I can surmise is that you have a genuine doubt as to whether the blank paper with your signature on it was really used for bona fide official use, which is not detrimental to your interest.

I can only suggest, in the circumstances explained, why don't you verify and confirm from the Education Department whether such a letter has been filed with them, and if so, what are the contents written or printed on it? Don't mistake me, I doubt their claims very much. I may sound like a pessimist or doubting Thomas, but I can't help it. Why? Because I can hardly imagine that such a letter would be legally required at all by the Education Department unless such a letter (with tailor-made contents to support, to solve their official compulsions) is insisted upon by the Education Department for some unknown reasons.

I raise this because I was the Secretary cum Correspondent of 13 government-aided schools managed by our company for over 7 years. I don't think verifying with the Education Department is such a difficult task. Secondly, you can also discuss with your seniors and seek their help and advice on the matter. I have no doubt they will definitely help you solve your problem.

All the best.

Addressing the Sensitive Issue of Signed Blank Paper

Your predicament is very sensitive now. Having just joined, it's very difficult for you to take a stern stand with your company. However, I understand your anxiety. You have a genuine doubt as to whether or not the blank paper with your signature on it was really used for bona fide official use, which is not detrimental to your interest.

I can only suggest, in the circumstances explained, that you verify and confirm with the Education Department whether such a letter has been filed with them, and if so, what the contents are. Don't mistake me; I doubt very much their claims. I may sound like a pessimist or doubting Thomas, but I can't help it. This is because I can hardly imagine that any such letter would be legally required by the Education Department unless such a letter (with tailor-made contents to support, to solve their official compulsions) is insisted upon by the Education Department for some unknown reasons.

The reason I'm raising this is that I was the Secretary cum Correspondent of 13 government-aided schools managed by our company for over 7 years. I don't think verifying with the Education Department is such a difficult task. Secondly, you can also discuss with your seniors and seek their help and advice on the matter. I have no doubt they will definitely help you solve your problem.

All the best.

Thanks a lot to all for taking the time to view this matter. But, sir, please help with the below actions (Are these actions useful or not?). Can he take these steps now?

1. Make a police complaint that his blank signed paper has been lost at the School Premises or on the way to school with the school ID card.
2. Make a press note in a national newspaper about the loss of these papers along with any other document photocopies.

Please suggest again.

Thanks in Advance.

The steps you are considering are extreme actions, which you should exercise with caution because they involve moral turpitude, infringing on the reputation of the institution where you are working. They may not take kindly to it. The press also has its own priorities, and this is not sensational enough news to warrant printing.

A police complaint quoting "lost in transit" may yield little result, and this action may backfire on you as the police will ask, "How did you leave a blank signed paper in such a careless manner?" Moreover, they cannot take any investigative steps as the signed blank paper was handed over at your school.

Think twice, thrice, or more before taking any of the proposed steps.

I also second Mr. Kumar. Until you are aware of whether the blank paper signed by you is utilized for a genuine reason, i.e., joining formalities, or will be used for any reason affecting you, it is too early to take any drastic step to complain to the police station or print media.

In an already complicated situation, why do you wish to further complicate the issue for yourself or your friend? You mention that the mental torture has already begun.

Given what you mentioned, Kumar S would be right—that the signed blank paper would IN ALL PROBABILITY be used to cover their tracks IF you or other employees, who too would have given such signed blank papers, turn the heat on the management, for whatever reason(s). Quite often, it would be related to salaries—given the fact that salaries in Govt-Aided Schools are delayed or sometimes lesser than agreed upon.

And when the intent from their end is clear, you will only be fooling yourself that you can fight them out by going to the Police or the Press. Like RK Nair suggested, the best way—in the given scenario—is to just lie low and work... UNTIL the probation of 2 years is completed.

Even then, I would suggest that you quit with amicable terms—and you can then think of the steps you intend now on the way to handle the signed blank paper.

In a single line, it takes not just a lot of guts to fight any establishment... but much more. You already have many examples close to you... like Ashok Khemka, etc.

All the best.

Regards,
TS

Suggestions for Changing Signatures

One more way may be useful, please suggest. If the individual changes his signature in all banks and also for attendance and other formalities in the future with correspondence with the management of institutes.

Hmmm... Not a bad idea. But it might involve a few legal formalities, such as changing the specimen signature already stored in the KYC data in bank records; it's not that easy. You may have to close the existing account and open a new one with a new specimen signature. Unfortunately, in India, there won't be detailed formalities to change the signature, unlike changing a name or spelling. But still, isn't it easy to change the signature that has already been filed in the school records?

One more suggestion: if you are changing the signature, try it in Hindi or your vernacular so that you can always justify it by saying you wish to promote the national language or mother tongue. In central government and PSU offices, the Government of India gives incentives for every Hindi signature or words used in official records and correspondences, so you might get rewarded for this idea as well.

Changing attendance and correspondences is not that difficult, though. However, take care that they don't question your identity itself; ensure you have adequate moles and scars on your (or your friend's) body.

1) Keep in touch with others who have signed such papers.
2) If/when such a paper is used against you, state the truth—that it was taken under compulsion/fraud. Get others to support you.
3) Keep safe the complaint already made by you, whether acknowledged or not.

To me, these are the options at present. Signing a blank paper is claimed to happen very often, and also some papers are denied later, giving the above excuse. As far as legal validity is concerned, even verbal assurances could form a contract, but when disputed, will need other evidence to back them.

Subject: Signed On A Blank Paper - Joining Formalities

I have noted your suggestion. Please note that in any event, if the matter is referred to the court of law, the management may demand the court to engage a handwriting expert to prove the signature of your friend. If your friend changes his signature, that does not mean it is not his signature because the handwriting expert will give his evidence before the court to the effect that it is his handwriting. So your friend will be in a defensive position.

Secondly, in case of a legal battle in court, the management will have to prove not only the signature of your friend but also the contents of the letter. If the contents are written by someone else, the management will not be able to bring him to say that the contents have been written by him on the blank paper signed by your friend. If the opposing party fails to prove the contents of the letter, then the court will not accept the said documents as evidence under the Evidence Act.

Forget about the legal position since he has been working in an organization. A job is a must for him at this stage. Let him work and maintain a good relationship with management.

Meanwhile, your friend may write a letter to the local police station stating therein that he has lost a paper signed on a blank paper and get the same duly acknowledged by the local police station and keep it carefully under his safe custody. This letter should neither be treated as a general diary nor an FIR. It will be treated as an intimation. Every day, the local police station is receiving many letters, and your friend's letter will be one of them. No one will be bothered to inquire about it.

Your friend should continue with this work until he gets a better opportunity elsewhere.

Regards,

Advice for Handling Management Issues

Hello Dear, as your friend has not yet filed a police complaint, it is advisable to instruct your friend to approach the management. If there are any issues on their part, request that they provide a written statement on official letterhead. Additionally, seek confirmation from the authority who had your friend sign a blank paper to provide written assurance that it was for official purposes only on official letterhead. If they refuse, request the paper back.

Regards,
BLS LLB 5th Year Student
Samadhan D. Chavan
Mumbai University

Dear Ashok, Sorry to say, but your friend is working like a slave. He has an attitude of unnecessary 'Yes'. This is purely his blunder to sign on a blank paper and then ask for a copy of that. After the management refused, he ran to the police and other officials. Honestly, stating that this is a purely foolish act. So, this is a lesson for him: never sign on a blank paper, even if an organization refuses to give joining. The rest is the story!