@Sridhar,
You have posted that:
---“He took approval for 3 days, later the issue became serious and he took 1 month”
The initial leave application for was casual leave or sick leave and extension sought was for sick leave………………….?
Later did he inform to company the need for extension of leave in writing, by leave application (supported by doctor’s advice for bed rest or without it) and does he have copy and proof of delivery?
Did he send it by normal post, by messenger, or informed by phone?
Did the leave sanctioning authority inform in writing the approval or declinature of original leave of 3 days and extension of leave to 1 month?
Did the authority initiate any action e.g. written communication, show cause notice alleging misconduct by employee/unauthorized absence?
---“ Its a private ltd company. It is in the state of Andhra Pradesh.”
Your response is not sufficient.
Being a HR person yourself you should clarify::::What is this establishment: Commercial, Industrial, Small Enterprise, as the leave rules for the establishment are as per enactments applicable to the establishment and leave policy of the establishment can not offer provisions that are inferior to the enactments applicable to the establishment.
The leave policy can offer superior provisions.
The company should have displayed the registration certificate at a conspicuous place e.g. near entrance, on notice board………………….hence the employee and you can find out.
If it is commercial establishment the employee may look into Andhra Pradesh
Shops and Commercial Establishments Act and rules framed under it, e.g;
Sec;30,33,34,47…………….
All of the enactments should be available on the website of Dept. of Labor of Andhra Pradesh and you can also buy the latest version from market.
Has the company circulated the leave rules by its printed version to all employees?
The leave rules are as per standing orders of the company, or negotiated settlement with employees?
How many employees are employed in it?
What is its line of business e.g: IT, Insurance, mutual funds etc?
What is the designation and nature of duties of employee?
The designation alone does not decide employee shall be covered as per def. of ‘Workman’ as in ID Act, ’Employee’ as in Pradesh Shops and Commercial Establishments Act.
Depending upon his coverage he can approach Inspector appointed under the enactments applicable to the establishment, o/o Labor Commissioner……………….. …or Civil Court.
If he is convinced that this HR person is bent on creating artificial break in service so as to deny eligibility of Gratuity, and he has evidence then he may go thru word’ WHOEVER’ in Sec:9 of Payment of Gratuity and build his case accordingly……………………..
Do standing orders apply to it, if yes employee and you may look into the standing orders (certified/Model) extended to the designation of employee.
Model Standing Orders: Sec9,10, 13, 14……….
Or Sections on leave in Certified Standing Orders, and in Leave policy/Leave Rules of the company may be looked into.
It is reiterated that leave policy of the establishment can not offer provisions that are inferior to the enactments applicable to the establishment. It can offer superior provisions.
The employee may approach ASAP employees unions, Works Committee (if any in the establishment), Trade Unions ( e.g; CITU, INTUC, AITUC, BMS …………Unions know precise ways to handle such matters.), Lawyer/ Law firm before making any submission in writing and structure his representations to appointing authority, and if appointing/leave sanctioning authority then MD, Chairman, Board of the company……………………..and explain his position including information sent by messenger, colleague, union members, by phone, email , normal post etc…………….and exercise his lien on employment, uninterrupted service.
It shall be appropriate if his representations are structured and drafted by a competent and experienced labor consultant/service lawyer.
Ask this employee to become member of unions and be properly informed.
A properly informed employee can defend his rights better than an ill informed employee.
Online discussions have its own limitations. Show all docs on record to your lawyer, understand the merits and proceed under expert advise of your lawyer. The lawyer that has analysed the docs on record and inputs can advice you the best.
Hope this shall suffice.