The style and manner of the company thru and its line managers/HR is coercive, intimidating, unreasonable, unfair, illegal…..
If company and its line managers/HR are unwilling to demand submission of original certificates/issue acknowledgment in writing/mention with in which date the original certificates shall be returned to employee, you may either submit to the tantrums and demands or decline.
You may submit copies attested by Gazetted Officer or Notary along with a letter mentioning that as per demands of Mr/Ms……….designation……….dept……..address…….on dated to submit the certificates, you are submitting attested copies of certificate number ……….towards ……….
You may add that if company wants to see the originals you can show them and you shall collect these on the spot after showing the originals.
Employee should be sensible /wise enough to understand when it is the time to bid goodbye and when the employer turns unworthy of being employed with.
You have the option of tendering notice of resignation with notice period/effective date of resignation/last day mentioned in it preferably by letter thru redg. post……
The officials in o/o Labor commissioner, SE Inspectorate are expected to take Suo Mottu notice of such unfair practices.
All united employees may place a phone call to Commissioner of Labor and mention that it can’t happen without connivance of officials and employees are contemplating to issue press note and escalate to State/Central Labor Minister also.
The Labor Commissioner may be an IAS officer and may act promptly.
The trade unions usually do not spare such incidences.
If employees can record (audio/visual) such incidence of coercion/intimdation they may succeed in lodging a FIR as well.
You may also find your own ways and means to defend your interest as deemed fit at your end.