Facing a 70k Bond Breakage Demand Months After Leaving: Any Advice on Handling This?

Hi, my previous employer has sent me a formal email to pay back the bond breakage amount, which amounts to 70k, approximately three months after exiting. I joined in January 2021, and my last working day was April 28, 2022. I received the mail today, on July 22, 2022. Is there any way to work around the situation? Kindly respond.

Thank you.

Dear NK Ramachandran, You have written, "my previous employee has sent me a formal email..." Probably it was a typo. You meant "employer" and not "employee."

Terms and Conditions of Separation
Anyway, you have not mentioned the terms and conditions of separation mentioned in the appointment letter. What are those? Unless we know that, we cannot comment on it.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

Prima facie, the admitted position is that you breached the service agreement, and the previous employer is demanding Rs. 70K as compensation for not serving the notice period. Legally, there is not much scope to defend your position. If you have served any part of the notice period, the compensation amount has to come down accordingly. So, the claim is limited to the proportionate amount corresponding to the unserved bond period.

Negotiation with the Employer
In such matters, the better course is to negotiate with the employer and arrive at a mutually satisfying solution.