‘Character assassination’: Delhi HC asks Wipro to pay Rs 2 lakh for defamation of ex-employee; termination letter full of ‘stigma and insinuations’
Wipro, India’s major IT services company, has been asked by Delhi High Court to pay Rs 2 lakh to a former employee, alleging ‘character assassination’. The court has issued a defamation ruling against Wipro regarding a contentious termination letter sent to a former employee, which contained language that was full of ‘stigma and insinuations’The court ordered Wipro to compensate Abhijit Mishra, who served as principal consultant from 2018-2020, with Rs 2 lakh as general damages to address the damage to his reputation, emotional distress, and professional standing caused by the company’s actions, an ET report said.The ruling was regarding a defamation case filed by Mishra seeking damages of over Rs 2.10 crore, citing that the negative comments in his termination letter by Wipro severely affected his professional standing and hindered his ability to find new employment.
Wipro Slammed With Penalty: What The Court Said
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav directed Wipro to remove the unfounded stigmatic comments about the former employee’s professional conduct and issue a new termination letter, observing that the original document contained unsubstantiated negative remarks.“The remarks therein, couched in the use of the term ‘malicious conduct’, not only lack substantiation but also have a direct and deleterious impact on the future employability and professional dignity of the plaintiff,” the judge ruled.Also Read | TCS gives out variable pay! Over 70% employees to get 100% variable; no decision yet on salary hikesThe dismissal notice from Wipro went beyond ending the employment contract, as it contained language that aimed to damage Mishra’s professional standing and hinder his prospects of securing future employment respectfully, according to the court’s ruling.
Delhi High Court On Termination Letter
The tenor of the communication reveals a discernible intent to carry out a form of character assassination by Wipro under the semblance of administrative formality, thereby compounding the damage to Mishra’s reputation and standing, Justice Kaurav added.The court also said that Wipro had not presented any substantial proof, whether through witness statements or documents, to demonstrate that Mishra’s reputational damage was linked to any verifiable misconduct.
What Wipro Has Said
Wipro had alleged that Mishra, whilst holding a senior creative and managerial role requiring innovative work, devoted more attention to his self-proclaimed role as a “crusader for social change” rather than fulfilling his professional responsibilities.The company further stated that Mishra showed disinterest in enhancing his work performance, which subsequently resulted in the termination of his employment.Also Read | Infosys vs Cognizant fight gets uglier! Why are the two big IT firms battling it out in the US? Explained
