I agree with the logic given by Mr. Dinesh Divekar in his response.
But I would like to add that this is not what methodicalness is, nor its what makes them MNC. In fact, in a way it is an invasion of privacy. I am confident that such things can not be asked from prospective employees in their own country.
In fact, there are many subjects that are off-bound for an Employer to ask in developed countries. One can not even ask whether a person subscribes to any religious faith.
You can not ask a female applicant about her marriage plans or a married female applicant whet her plans are in respect of motherhood.
It is only in India, where Individual liberty or Privacy is not given any importance, and the Employer thinks that since he is giving employment, he has the right to own the personal and private life of an Applicant or prospective employee.
Giving an example, suppose the applicant is a female, who has just got over a nasty divorce, or a was pregnant and had a miscarriage, or may be it was due to some personal problem and she needed four months to recover from it, why should she be FORCED TO STATE UNDER AN AFFIDAVIT what she has been doing during this period ??
Is it not enough, that the person has taken some time off for herself or himself ??
Why should it be assumed that an adult also will SLAVE as an adult till he retires or dies, and shall not take some time off for himself ???
If the Company is worried that the person may have committed a criminal offence, then they also have certain questions in their Employment Application Form itself.
Moreover, even if it is assumed that a person was in jail for something, four months is a such a short period to assume that he had committed any grave offence.
Also, if one analyzes then one will find that most often, Corporate crimes are committed by First Time Offenders.
What is the guarantee that an employee who has a perfectly unblemished and shining career so far, will not commit any crime?
Moreover, in US a person who has already undergone a punishment, is offered all help to rehabilitate him and lead a normal life.
I do not have any objection and I understand that we can do little to change the mindset of INDIAN Corporates which are greatly seeped into the psychology of FEUDAL SYSTEM, which existed in the form of Zamindari System in India.
But as HR professionals the least we can do is; instead of Praising such system, we can at least Condemn such system WHICH is based on MisTrust and assumes that Everyone is a Felon or Criminal, unless he proves himself otherwise.
What is wrong is wrong, even though it is widely practiced and prevalent. For example, Sati was so prevalent and had social sanction and praise and reverence, yet it was rooted out. Untouchability, which is sanctioned by religion, is also being discouraged and is a penal offence.
So I hope, any such practice, which compels a person to divulge his or her personal free time without any specific reason, on oath in an affidavit, should not be encouraged or praised.
Let us look at the broad Principles of Life and humanity, Rather than some small and sundry Rules made by some company or the other.
Warm regards.