IT employees are industrial workers: Court

CHENNAI: A city labour court has ruled that IT firm employees also come under the ambit of Industrial Disputes Act. It has directed HCL Technologies Ltd to reinstate a sacked techie with all back wages and other benefits from the date of dismissal. Setting aside the termination order, in a landmark ruling the Presiding Officer, I-Additional Labour Court, S. Nambirajan, also directed the company to reinstate him with continuity of service.

K. Ramesha of Annanur, Chennai, submitted he served as a Senior Service Programmer in HCL Technologies Limited. He had completed bachelor's degree in Computer Applications and Masters in IT course. He was on probation for a year in the company and his services were regularised on February 26, 2010 with retrospective effect from August 2009. The company while confirming his services revised his gross salary based on his performance. On September 20,  2010, in appreciation of his contribution, his salary was revised from July 1, 2010. In 2011, a certificate of appreciation was given to him.

After appraising the performance, the company revised his salary again in August 2011 with effect from July 2011. However, on January 22, 2013, his services were terminated stating that his performance was not satisfactory, as he had not shown any improvement despite counselling.