Delhi High Court's Landmark Ruling Against Wipro

In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has directed Wipro, one of India's leading IT services companies, to pay Rs 2 lakh to a former employee for defamation. The court found the termination letter sent to the ex-employee, Abhijit Mishra, to be filled with 'stigma and insinuations', severely damaging his professional reputation.

The Case Details

Abhijit Mishra, who served as a principal consultant at Wipro from 2018 to 2020, filed a defamation case seeking damages of over Rs 2.10 crore. He argued that the negative remarks in his termination letter hindered his ability to secure new employment.

Court's Directive

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav ordered Wipro to issue a new termination letter, removing all unfounded stigmatic comments. The judge emphasized that the original letter's language amounted to 'character assassination', lacking any substantiation.

Wipro's Defense

Wipro claimed that Mishra neglected his professional duties, focusing instead on his self-proclaimed role as a 'crusader for social change'. The company stated that his disinterest in work performance led to his termination.