Salary disputes, resignation issues, and consumer protection.
Employment law in India is in the middle of a major consolidation. The four Labour Codes passed in 2019-2020 — Code on Wages, Industrial Relations Code, Code on Social Security, and OSH&WC Code — replace 29 older statutes including the Industrial Disputes Act, Factories Act, Payment of Wages Act, and Payment of Gratuity Act. Implementation is rolling out state by state; until then, the older Acts continue. Consumer law was overhauled in 2019: the Consumer Protection Act 2019 introduced product liability, e-commerce rules, the Central Consumer Protection Authority, online filing via e-Daakhil, and Online Dispute Resolution.
This section covers wrongful termination and notice-pay rights, gratuity calculation under the 240-day rule, workmen's compensation for workplace injuries, gig and platform worker recognition (Rajasthan and Karnataka have state-specific laws), POSH Act 2013 implementation, maternity benefits (26 weeks paid), unfair contract terms, insurance claim rejection and the Insurance Ombudsman route, hospital overbilling and Clinical Establishments Act remedies, gym and subscription refunds, defective products, and e-commerce returns. Compensation thresholds: District Commission up to ₹50 lakh, State Commission ₹50 lakh to ₹2 crore, National Commission above. Where employer or seller liability is contested, engage a specialised labour or consumer lawyer early — documentation in the first 30 days matters most.
No. Once you serve the agreed notice period, your resignation is legally effective. Forcing you to work would amount to 'forced labour' under Article 23 of the Constitution.
Send a legal demand notice, then file a claim under the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 (or Code on Wages, 2019) before the Labour Commissioner, or initiate insolvency under the IBC for corporate employers.
Yes. Under DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 3, Series M, Part IV, you are entitled to meals, hotel stays, refunds, or compensation up to ₹10,000 depending on delay or cancellation.
File a complaint on the E-Daakhil portal under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The District Consumer Commission has jurisdiction up to ₹50 lakh and you need not engage a lawyer.
File a written complaint with your employer's Internal Committee (IC) under the POSH Act, 2013. The IC must complete inquiry within 90 days. You can also approach the Local Committee or the police.
Under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (as amended in 2017), you are entitled to 26 weeks of paid maternity leave for your first two children, 12 weeks for the third+. Plus protection against dismissal during pregnancy and 1 month after return.
Yes — under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, eligible 'workmen' get 15 days' average pay per completed year of service for retrenchment, plus notice pay. Establishments with 100+ workers need government permission to retrench.
Under the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, platforms must acknowledge complaints within 48 hours and refund within 14 days of accepting a return. False product claims and misleading reviews are now actionable.
Yes, in many cases. Indian courts have routinely struck down 'no refund' clauses as unfair contract terms under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. File a consumer complaint citing deficiency of service.
Gratuity is payable under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 after 5 continuous years of service. Formula: (Last drawn salary × 15 × years of service) / 26. Maximum tax-exempt limit is ₹20 lakh (Section 10(10) Income Tax Act).
The Employees' Compensation Act, 1923 (formerly Workmen's Compensation Act) entitles workers to compensation for injuries 'arising out of and in the course of employment'. Amounts depend on injury severity, age, and wages — typically 50% of monthly wage for the period of disability + lump sum for permanent injuries.
Under the Code on Social Security, 2020, gig and platform workers are formally recognised for the first time. Aggregators (Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Zomato, Urban Company etc.) must contribute 1-2% of turnover or 5% of payments to a Social Security Fund covering health, accident, disability, maternity, old-age. Rajasthan & Karnataka have state-specific laws.
File a complaint with the insurer's grievance officer first, then escalate to IRDAI's Bima Bharosa portal, the Insurance Ombudsman (claims up to ₹50 lakh, free, binding on insurer), or Consumer Commission. Most insurers settle when serious complaint is filed.
Demand itemised bill, compare against Clinical Establishments Act tariffs and your insurer's network rates, escalate to hospital management, IMA, state health authority, file consumer complaint, and ask insurer to involve Third-Party Administrator (TPA). Many hospitals settle when challenged with documentation.
