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Company not providing service records unless submitting original docs


29-Jan-2026 (In Civil Law)
After being employed on the ships of a company for the period of 13 months company is requiring me to submit my original class 12 mark sheet and retain it to ensure I don’t leave for three years and for them to produce a employment record which I need to submit to the shipping master in Chennai for my seafarer licensure examinations which has no connection with my mark sheet what is your advice
Answers (1)

Answer #1
528 votes
An employer has no legal right to retain your original educational certificates, including Class 12 mark sheet, as a condition of continued employment. Such retention amounts to unfair labour practice and coercion, and has been consistently deprecated by courts. If the company requires proof of qualification, they may verify self-attested or notarised copies, but cannot keep originals to bind an employee for a fixed period. You may issue a legal notice demanding return of the original documents, failing which you can approach the Labour Department or civil court seeking mandatory injunction and damages. Retention of certificates has no nexus with issuing employment records.
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