I left my previous job in May and joined another firm. Before leaving, I had requested the HR team (New Employer) to allow me some time to obtain and submit my relieving letter from my former employer. However, despite all this time having passed, I still haven't received it.

There was no written or oral agreement between my former employer and me regarding a notice period or any specific notice-related conditions. However, when I submitted my resignation, I was informed that I would have to serve a three-month notice period, failing which I would not be issued a relieving letter.

I decided to leave after completing three weeks, during which I ensured that all my pending deliverables, assignments and handover responsibilities were completed. In fact, I had been requesting the management to facilitate the handover from the very first week, but they repeatedly refused, citing bandwidth constraints. By the end of the third week, the work environment had also become increasingly toxic, which further influenced my decision to leave.

Now, I'm trying to understand what recourse I have in this situation. What steps can I take to obtain my relieving letter without the former employer making any adverse, misleading or factually incorrect remarks about my exit or conduct?

Any insight or suggestions would be great.