Worried About Repaying Bonuses After Leaving a Job Early? What Could Happen Next?

I need your advice regarding my previous employment situation. I worked there for 7 months and left due to a crisis. At the time of joining, I received a joining bonus and a relocation bonus, with the condition that if I left before completing one year, I would have to reimburse the amount. Now, the full and final settlement has been issued, and they are trying to recover both the joining and relocation bonuses. Currently, I am not in a financial position to repay it. What actions might they take if I don't reimburse the amount? Will they pursue legal action against me?

Grant of Joining Bonus and Relocation Reward

The particular clause regarding the grant of a joining bonus and relocation reward, as the poster herself has stated, is subject to the condition of rendering one year of service in the organization from the date of joining. Upon acceptance of such a clause, the poster joined the organization. Therefore, if she leaves the job on her own, for whatever reason, before completing the stipulated one year, she must refund the amounts of the joining bonus and relocation reward. It is immaterial whether it is affordable or not. The employer can recover the amount from her by appropriate legal means, apart from creating problems in her formal relief.