Firms can face defamation over termination letters: Delhi HC

The Delhi high court has ruled that employers could face defamation charges if their termination letters indirectly force ex-employees to reveal dismissal reasons, thereby harming their reputation with new employers.

- Shruti Kakkar

A bench of justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav delivered the detailed verdict on Monday while dealing with a suit filed by a former employee of Wipro, who sought ₹2 crore as damages from the company for allegedly issuing a defamatory termination letter containing adverse remarks.

The petitioner Abhijit Mishra also sought a fresh termination letter, asserting that the current letter was replete with defamatory, derogatory assertions that maligned his character and had resulted in serious damage to his reputation.