India, Feb. 19 -- Infosys has clarified that it did not use force of intimidation tactics while laying off trainees at its Mysuru campus, days after reports surfaced of the company firing over 300 trainees.

In an interview with news agency PTI, Infosys chief human resources officer Shaji Mathew said the company was explaining the circumstances of the layoffs to the Karnataka Labour Department.

He also admitted that the assessment failure percentages this time were "slightly higher" than in the past. He, however, dismissed charges that the tests had been designed for failure. He claimed that the trainees were fired after they failed three internal assessments consecutively.

Trainees, he said, are given three assessment chances to clear,...