Azim Premji gets clean chit

The Allahabad High Court has dismissed criminal proceedings against Wipro Chairman Azim Premji in a case involving alleged violations of labour laws at the company's Ghaziabad office. The court ruled that top executives, including Premji, cannot be held criminally liable for technical violations without direct involvement.

The case originated from a complaint filed by the labour department, but the high court found that the magistrate had not properly examined the factual aspects before issuing the summons. Justice Jafeer Ahmad passed the order, setting aside the summons and providing relief to Azim Premji and other senior company officials.

The complaint failed to specify the chairman's role in the day-to-day functioning of the company or in ensuring labour law compliance, leading to the dismissal of the criminal proceedings. This judgment highlights the requirement for specific evidence of direct involvement before holding top executives accountable for technical violations of labour laws.