In Brief
A software developer employed by a Gurgaon-based IT company visited the USA for a week-long business meeting in 2013, with the company bearing travel costs. Months later, the company sued her to recover around ₹5.7 lakhs as 'deputation expenses' under a contractual clause. The trial court and appellate courts partly upheld the claim. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that a 'deputation' in employment law requires a tripartite written agreement between the lending employer, borrowing employer, and employee. A transient business visit without formal deputation documentation does not qualify as deputation. Since the company failed to produce cogent evidence of an overseas deputation arrangement, the recovery suit was dismissed. The Court awarded the appellant ₹1 lakh costs, finding the suit amounted to workplace reprisal for raising grievances."
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