Received a Legal Notice from HCL for Skipping Notice Period – How Should I Respond?

Hi everyone, I need your suggestions. I received a legal letter from HCL Technologies asking me to pay a sum for not serving my notice period. Details below:

Employment History with HCL

I worked with HCL from December 2016 to August 2019. I was moved from a project to a bench in March 2019. No project was assigned to me, so HCL HR and the bench manager relieved me of duty immediately. Now I have received a legal letter stating that I have not served the notice period and asking me to pay my three months' basic salary. What can I do? I am not in India anymore.

Retrenchment or Resignation?

In effect, it appears or can best be considered as 'retrenchment' and by any stretch of imagination can be considered a resignation. If so, where is the question of serving a notice period or recovery of 'notice pay' in lieu thereof? It looks strange and arbitrary. On the contrary, you are entitled to compensation, notice pay, and other full and final settlement.

Please reply to them stating the facts as mentioned above and refute the demand for payment of the notice period. Support your response with relevant documents. You can request the payment of the notice period. You do not need to reply to the advocate directly but send your response to HCL Technologies.

The terms of your employment and the communications sent by HCL Tech to you should be reviewed before giving an opinion.

S.K. Mittal
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy-Reasons]