A Mumbai-based TCS employee has won a significant victory against the company after alleging that he was forced to resign during a family medical emergency and later denied his rightful gratuity. The case, which reached the Mumbai labour office, has raised serious questions about termination practices at one of India’s largest IT companies.
According to the complaint, the employee had been working with TCS for seven years. During this period, his father was admitted to the ICU, prompting him to take emergency leave. He claims that instead of support, he faced pressure from the HR team to resign. Unable to withstand the mounting pressure during a personal crisis, he eventually submitted his resignation.
The trouble continued after his exit, when TCS allegedly withheld his gratuity payment. With no response from the company, he approached the labour department. During the hearing, the labour commissioner reprimanded TCS for unfair labour practices and directed the company to release the full gratuity amount owed for his service tenure. The order ensured that the employee not only received his due payment, but also delivered a strong message about protecting workers’ rights.
This case adds to a series of concerns raised about TCS’ handling of exits in recent months. Another reported incident involved a senior employee with 29 years of industry experience and 14 years at TCS, who alleged he was forced to quit while awaiting surgery. The IT employee forums have claimed that staffers were asked to choose between accepting limited severance packages or facing immediate termination.
Industry bodies have flagged these developments as troubling, especially in a year when TCS reportedly reduced around 12,000 positions globally due to restructuring and increased adoption of automation and AI. Employee groups have questioned how many resignations were voluntary, how severance packages were calculated, and whether vulnerable employees especially those on medical leave were given fair treatment.
Labour organisations, including FITE and NITES, have filed multiple complaints accusing the company of illegal terminations and non-payment of dues. During the recent hearing, officials reiterated that labour offices can challenge any internal HR policy, whether forced resignation, wrongful termination or withholding money owed and employees must raise complaints when their rights are violated.
The Mumbai case reinforces that workers can seek legal recourse when employers deny statutory benefits. The employee now continues his recovery with financial relief secured, while the ruling serves as a reminder that employment laws apply equally to India’s biggest corporates.