Case filed in Labour Court against Sonam Wangchuk's HIAL for non-payment of maternity benefits

The Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Learning and Education (HIAL), established by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, is currently embroiled in a serious legal dispute. A former female employee of the institution has filed an application in the Leh Labour Court for the non-payment of her lawful maternity benefits and for the sudden severance of contact following childbirth.

According to a report by News18, a woman named Amina Khatoon, who had been associated with HIAL since 2023, has alleged that despite completing all necessary formalities, the institution refused to grant her 26 weeks of maternity benefits. According to Khatoon's complaint, she worked continuously during her pregnancy and subsequently went on maternity leave on March 9, 2024. She submitted all required medical and delivery documents within the stipulated timeframe, yet her maternity salary was withheld by HIAL without any valid reason.

The complaint further states that within one month of the child's birth, Khatoon was removed from official team communication groups and her corporate email account was deactivated. Consequently, she remained in uncertainty regarding her employment or rejoining status during the postpartum period. When she attempted to return to work, she was told by the Human Resources (HR) department to wait for an update, but no such update was ever received.

Amina Khatoon has also leveled a serious allegation that HIAL has withheld her experience certificate, which has negatively impacted her professional progress. She stated that due to the lack of this certificate, she lost a potential employment opportunity at an organisation such as Engineers India Limited (EIL). She repeatedly contacted HIAL CEO Gitanjali Angmo, the HR department, and founder Sonam Wangchuk, but the management failed to resolve the matter or clear her outstanding dues, forcing her to seek legal recourse.

The case was registered before the Assistant Labour Commissioner of Leh on June 27, 2026. The case primarily pertains to the non-payment and delayed payment of wages and maternity benefits. Court records indicate that notices were sent multiple times to CEO Gitanjali Angmo and HR representative Dchen. The authority issued a final notice directing the respondents to appear and warned that further legal action could be taken in case of non-compliance.

These proceedings have been initiated under Section 15 of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, and relevant provisions of the Code on Wages, 2019. Additionally, the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, was mentioned in the final notice. According to documents, Angmo and Dchen appeared before the authority on July 13, but remained absent in subsequent proceedings. The authority has granted a final opportunity until September 15, clarifying that if they fail to appear this time, coercive legal action will be taken against them.