Dear member,
If the employee has proceeded on leave without due approval then it is unauthorised absence. For his/her unauthorised absence, send a notice to his last known address. Scan the copy of the notice and send it by email also. If no response is received then send one more notice. If still response is not received then order the domestic enquiry. Send him letter to depose before the Enquiry Officer on a specified date. If the employee does not depose then order one more time enquiry and follow the same procedure. If still employee does not turn up then you may take up ex partedecision and terminate the services of the employee.
Create one exclusive file for such employee. Preserve all the records carefully.
You may find that the procedure given above is boring and interminable too. However, to protect the interest of your company, you will have to follow the above procedure. The procedure involves cost of the sending letters by post etc however, if the employee were to go to court challenging the decision then the cost of litigation will be huge. Compared with that that the cost of postate and stationery is far lesser.
There are 'n' number of rulings by the courts since India became independent. Many times the courts have overturned the termination of the employee since due process of law or principles of natural justice were not followed. However, if the proper procedure is followed then courts also do not intervene in the internal matters of the company.
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar