Court orders of Lathika Pai's unfair exit case against Microsoft can be published: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court recently clarified that the orders passed by a Bengaluru court hearing Lathika Pai’s plea challenging her allegedly forced exit from Microsoft can be published by third parties [Mrs Lathika Pai v M/s Microsoft Corporation & Ors]. 

In an order passed on July 14, Justice M Nagaprasanna said that at first blush, the trial court order may indicate that its orders are not to be published, but a further reading would suggest that the prohibition applies only to Pai. 

“The words "nor publish the order of the Court" cannot be read in isolation, it has to be read concerning the plaintiff. The publication of the order shall not be made by the plaintiff, is what the order would mean, as it cannot mean that the order cannot be published,” the High Court said. 

Pai, a former senior executive at Microsoft India, moved the Court against Microsoft Corporation (India) and its top management for allegedly forcing her to resign from the company. 

She has alleged that she was subjected to four years of investigation over an office project and that the probe was kept open indefinitely without conclusion to tarnish her reputation.

Microsoft has rejected the allegations. 

Notably, Pai had initially filed the suit in the Delhi High Court. However, the same was withdrawn after Microsoft raised objection to territorial jurisdiction. 

Subsequently, she filed a suit in the Bengaluru court. 

On June 9, Microsoft told the trial court that it would preserve the documents related to this case. The Court recorded this statement and ordered Pai not to publish Microsoft’s undertaking or the order passed by the Court until further orders. 

Pai then filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the order. 

Senior Advocate Prabhuling K Navadgi and advocate IS Devaiah appeared for Lathika Pai. 

Senior Advocate Dhyan Chinnappa and advocate Mohammed Shameer represented Microsoft.

[Read Order]