Dear All Experts,
my case brief history is mentioned here and at the end i need your expert advice regarding what options i can have -
( I am a workman no managerial role and my employer is an industry)
An Industrial dispute between me and my employer is pending before the labour court subjecting to punitive /malafide transfer order since 2013-14 and in between my employer called me over phone and asked for mutual solution out of the court, i replied them my willingnes in yes and in response my HR manager asked me to write them a letter stating i am interested in amicable mutual solution, which i wrote to them.Subsequently HR called me over phone again and asked me to come over to company HO -Mumbai for discussions and accordingly i went there .Before going to Mumbai HO office i asked them in written what is the agenda and what sort of discussions you have to do?, HR denied and replied you just come to office we will talk there only.( all documents are in record with me)
At HO office i was taken to company chamber with search and no electronic device was allowed suspecting recording , there i was asked about my proposal which i replied timely salary, increment, promotion and revoking my transfer order to end the dispute.In response HR told me we have no interest in you to keep you in employment and was told to resign and withdraw the legal case and lieu of that they will offer me separation amount which was 3.25 lacs and incase you donot do so we will terminate you w.e.f today only and showed me the termination letter of other employees who had refused to do so in past.As i was aware that Company last month terminated same day approx 20 employees/workman who had refused to do so, so i got scared and in tension .Discussions continue for two days and to avoid termination i conitnued the requests that i am already without wages for the last 3 years and Rs 3.25 lacs is meagre amount for me .Company further put some photocopies of termination of employees/ workman of last month who had resisted to resign and same behaviour we will do with you, choice is yours.
I requested them to increase the amount if resignation is to be given company increases it to 5.00 lacs and did a written agreement with me that i am resigning of my own , withdrawing the case pending before the labour court and inlieu of that company is paying me lump-sum amount of Rs 5.00 lacs. This written agreement is duly signed by me and my employer and same day i submitted my resignation statiing the agreement and contioned to settlement of all my legal dues as agreed.Resignation was given on contioned and same was mentioned in the resignation subjecting to setlement of my pending dues.Where as within minutes of submission my resignation , it was accepted and was given gratuity in within half an hour.
Now my questions are ---
Can this resignations be termed as deemed termination
Can i ask the court not to close my ppending case as it was forceful taken my me.
Can i narrate the court that accepting amount Rs5.00 lacs , submitting resignation and application to withdraw the case was under compelling circumstances where all the terms were dictated by the employer and was under the fear of termination , so accepted the same
Employer has credited / given me my gratuity, Rs 5.00 lacs and other leave encashment but refusing to pay my back wages since January 2013 ,which is loss to me, so what are the legal options for me now?
Asking the employee to resign and offering some money is laglise? Can it be challenged in the court? even if it is accepted by the employee under compelling life circumstances.
I wish to continue the pending case and sue them further legally, so what are the options for me ?
Can be resignation be termed as deemed termination despite written agreement between me and employer and Rs 5.00 lacs credited into my account.
Regards
Jagtar