Privacy Policy—Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy ("Policy") governs the collection, use, processing, storage, sharing, and disclosure of information by Hire Route ("Company", "Hire Route", "we", "our", "us"), in connection with its website, application, and related services ("Platform").

This Policy is framed in accordance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 ("DPDP Act"), the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011, as amended from time to time, and applies to all personal data processed by us as a Data Fiduciary.

By accessing or using the Platform, you ("Data Principal", "user", "you") confirm that you have read, understood, and consented to the practices described in this Policy.

2. Scope

This Policy applies to:

• Candidates (job seekers) who create a profile or submit information through the Platform
• Employers and recruiters who engage Hire Route for talent solutions
• Visitors and general users of the Platform

3. Information We Collect

3.1 Personal Information

• Name, email address, phone number
• Resume, employment history, educational qualifications, and skills
• Location and profile data
• 3.2 Sensitive Personal Data (collected only where voluntarily provided or legally necessary)
• Government-issued identification documents
• Background verification details, where relevant to a specific hiring mandate
• 3.3 Technical Information
• IP address, browser and device information
• Usage logs, cookies, and interaction data

Sensitive personal data is collected only with your explicit, separate consent and is used solely for the specific purpose disclosed at the time of collection.

4. Purpose of Data Processing

We collect and process personal data for the following purposes:

• Facilitating recruitment, hiring, and talent-matching services
• Matching candidates with relevant employer opportunities
• Communication, customer support, and service updates
• Platform security, fraud prevention, and abuse detection
• Compliance with applicable legal and regulatory obligations

5. Consent and Legal Basis

In accordance with the DPDP Act, we process your personal data only on the basis of:

• Free, specific, informed, unconditional, and unambiguous consent, given through a clear affirmative action
• Certain "legitimate uses" permitted under the DPDP Act (for example, where you have voluntarily provided data for a specified purpose and have not indicated objection)
• Compliance with applicable law or a legal obligation

Where processing is based on consent, the consent request will be presented in clear and plain language, independently of any other matter, and will itemise the personal data sought and the purpose of processing. You may withdraw consent at any time with effect going forward, through the mechanism described in Clause 8 below or by writing to us at the contact details in Clause 11. Withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out prior to withdrawal, and may limit or disable your ability to use certain features of the Platform.

6. Data Sharing & Disclosure

We may share your information:

• With employers and recruiters, solely for the purpose of evaluating you for relevant opportunities
• With service providers who support our hosting, analytics, communication, and verification functions, under contractual confidentiality obligations
• With law enforcement, regulators, or judicial authorities where required by applicable law

We do not sell personal data to any third party.

6.1 Cross-Border Data Transfers

Where personal data is transferred outside India for processing (including to service providers using overseas infrastructure), such transfer will be carried out in accordance with the DPDP Act and any conditions or restrictions notified by the Central Government from time to time. Any such transfer is made subject to contractual safeguards requiring the recipient to maintain a comparable standard of data protection.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this Policy, in accordance with the following principles:

• Candidate profile data: retained while your account is active, and for up to 24 months following your last activity on the Platform, after which it is deleted or anonymised unless a longer period is required by law or an ongoing engagement
• Employer and transactional records: retained for the duration of the business relationship and for up to 7 years thereafter, to meet statutory, tax, and audit requirements
• Data retained for an ongoing legal proceeding, dispute, or regulatory inquiry will be kept until such matter is finally resolved

You may request earlier erasure of your data under Clause 8, subject to our right to retain data where required by law or for the establishment, exercise, or defence of a legal claim.

8. Your Rights as a Data Principal

Subject to applicable law, you have the right to:

• Access a summary of the personal data we hold about you and the processing activities carried out
• Request correction, completion, or updating of your personal data
• Request erasure of personal data that is no longer necessary for the purpose it was collected, subject to legal retention requirements
• Withdraw consent at any time, as described in Clause 5
• Nominate another individual to exercise these rights on your behalf in the event of death or incapacity
• Register a grievance regarding the processing of your personal data, as set out in Clause 11

To exercise any of these rights, please write to us at the contact details in Clause 11. We will respond within the timeframe prescribed under the DPDP Act and applicable rules.

9. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organisational safeguards, including access controls, encryption in transit, and restricted internal access, appropriate to the nature of the personal data processed. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and users acknowledge the inherent risks of digital platforms.

10. Personal Data Breach Notification

In the event of a personal data breach that compromises the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of your personal data, we will notify the Data Protection Board of India and affected Data Principals in the manner and within the timeframe prescribed under the DPDP Act and applicable rules, and will take reasonable steps to mitigate the impact of such breach.

11. Grievance Officer

Queries, complaints, and requests concerning this Policy may be addressed to us at: info@hireroute.co.in

We will endeavour to acknowledge and resolve grievances within the timelines prescribed under applicable law.

12. Children's Data

The Platform is intended for use by individuals who are at least 18 years of age or have attained the age of majority under applicable law. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal data from a child without verifiable parental or guardian consent, we will take steps to delete such data promptly.

13. Third-Party Services

The Platform may include links to or integrations with third-party services. We are not responsible for the independent privacy practices of such third parties, and encourage users to review their respective privacy policies.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Hire Route shall not be liable for unauthorised access arising from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, misuse of data by third parties or users, or loss arising from user negligence, including failure to safeguard account credentials.

15. Policy Updates

We may update this Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. Where changes are material, we will provide notice by email or a prominent notice on the Platform at least 15 days before such changes take effect. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date of an update constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.

16. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

This Policy is governed by the laws of India. Courts at Noida / Delhi NCR shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes arising in connection with this Policy.

1. Platform Nature

Hire Route operates solely as a technology-enabled intermediary platform connecting candidates and employers. We:

• Do not guarantee employment or hiring outcomes
• Do not act as an employer to any candidate introduced through the Platform
• Do not independently verify all user-submitted information, though we may conduct verification for specific engagements where agreed

2. Eligibility

By using the Platform, you represent that you are at least 18 years of age, have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement, and, where acting on behalf of an organisation, have the authority to bind that organisation to these Terms.

3. User Representations & Warranties

Users represent and warrant that:

• All information provided is accurate, current, and lawful
• They have the right to share such information and to authorise its use as described herein
• They will comply with all applicable laws in their use of the Platform

4. Candidate Terms

Candidates acknowledge that:

• Their profiles may be shared with prospective employers for evaluation
• Hiring decisions are made solely by employers, and Hire Route is not responsible for the outcome of any application
• They may request access, correction, or deletion of their data as set out in the Privacy Policy

5. Employer Obligations

Employers agree to:

• Use candidate data strictly for the purpose of evaluating candidates for genuine hiring opportunities
• Not store, distribute, sell, or otherwise misuse candidate information beyond the scope of the engagement
• Comply with all applicable data protection and employment laws, including the DPDP Act where they independently process candidate data

6. Intellectual Property

All content, branding, systems, and technology of Hire Route are proprietary to the Company. Users shall not copy, reproduce, distribute, reverse engineer, or otherwise misuse the Platform's content or technology without prior written consent.

7. Confidentiality

Each party agrees to keep confidential any non-public business, candidate, or commercial information disclosed by the other party in connection with the Platform, and to use such information solely for the purpose for which it was disclosed, except where disclosure is required by law.

8. Indemnity

Users agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Hire Route, its directors, employees, and affiliates from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and reasonable legal costs arising out of: breach of these Terms, misuse of the Platform, or violation of applicable law by the user.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Hire Route shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, or loss of profits, business, or data, arising from use of the Platform. The Company's total aggregate liability, if any, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Platform shall not exceed the total fees paid by the user to Hire Route in the 12 months preceding the claim, or INR 10,000, whichever is lower.

10. Account Suspension / Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate access without prior notice where a user materially breaches these Terms, to remove content that violates these Terms, and to restrict usage for security, fraud-prevention, or legal reasons.

11. Force Majeure

Hire Route shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to events beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, system or network failures, and government actions.

12. Notices

Any notice required under these Terms shall be sent in writing to info@hireroute.co.in, and shall be deemed received on the date of delivery confirmation.

13. Entire Agreement, Severability & Waiver

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any applicable service agreement, constitute the entire agreement between the parties on the subject matter herein. If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force. No failure or delay by Hire Route in exercising any right under these Terms shall operate as a waiver of that right.

14. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

Parties shall first attempt to resolve any dispute amicably through good-faith negotiation. Failing amicable resolution within 30 days, the dispute shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration in India under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, seated at Noida / Delhi NCR, before a sole arbitrator appointed by mutual consent. The arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in English. Subject to the foregoing, the courts at Noida / Delhi NCR shall have exclusive jurisdiction.