Can a junior employee in India be legally bound by a 4-year non-compete agreement that prevents them from working with the company’s clients or major competitors after leaving? Is it fair to terminate an employee without warning if they refuse to sign such an agreement, especially if it wasn’t mentioned in their appointment letter?

In India, non-compete agreements are generally valid only if they are reasonable in scope and duration. A 4-year non-compete agreement for a junior employee might be considered excessive. Terminating an employee without warning for refusing to sign a non-compete agreement that wasn’t part of the original contract might be considered unfair and potentially unlawful.