While a representative from NITES was present at the meeting in New Delhi, no official from TCS turned up, despite a formal notice issued by the CLC office. Instead, the company sent a written reply via email, attributing the delays to "prevailing global market conditions" and reaffirming its intention to honour all offer letters. The IT major also maintained that such deferments are not uncommon in the industry and questioned the legal standing of NITES in intervening on the matter. NITES, however, submitted detailed representations during the meeting, highlighting the prolonged uncertainty faced by hundreds of professionals left in the lurch.   "TCS's absence at the meeting is deeply concerning. The livelihoods and dignity of experienced professionals cannot be brushed aside," said Harpreet Singh Saluja, President of NITES and a practising advocate at the Bombay High Court. Among its key demands, the employee body has called for: A clear, time-bound commitment to onboarding, Compensation for the delay period, Mental health and relocation support for affected candidates, and A platform for direct dialogue between the company and the impacted individuals. The union also flagged rising complaints of forced resignations, revoked offers, and alleged violations of labour laws. In an effort to protect the identities of affected individuals, NITES chose not to submit physical documents at the meeting but has confidentially shared all relevant evidence with the CLC via email. A statement issued by Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner Tej Bahadur confirmed that while TCS did not participate in person, its response was taken on record. The Commissioner also acknowledged NITES' request for another opportunity to resolve the issue through dialogue and said further proceedings would be scheduled if required. In one of the biggest shakeups in the IT industry world, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) had earlier announced that it will be laying off 12,000 workers which is about 2% of its global workforce by the end of March 2026. This is a big change for India's largest IT services company, which has long been seen as a safe place to work in a turbulent business.