Bombay High Court Restrains Lifesciences Company From Selling 414 Goats Used To Produce Antibody Serum

The Bombay High Court has restrained a lifesciences company from selling, transferring or slaughtering 414 goats maintained at its farm for producing Anti-Human IgG (Fc) Serum (Goat).

The court also directed the company to continue the existing veterinary and immunisation procedures and allow another company's livestock supervisor access to the farm.

Justice Amit Borkar passed the order on a petition filed by Advy Biosciences under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, after Swaraj Lifesciences issued a termination notice dated August 24, 2026.

The dispute arose from a supply agreement between the companies dated April 1, 2025. Under the agreement, Swaraj was required to maintain at least 400 productive goats for supplying the serum.

Advy claimed that it supplied the immunogens, immunisation schedules, standard operating procedures and technical protocols used in the process. The goats were immunised using these materials, and the plasma produced from them was connected to the manufacture of the serum.

Advy alleged that its supervisor was compelled to leave Swaraj's farm on September 4, 2026. It claimed that it subsequently lost access to the goats, their records and the process through which plasma was collected. It also apprehended that its confidential technical information could be used or disclosed.

Swaraj, however, claimed that the goats belonged to it and had been purchased, reared and maintained at its own cost. It accused Advy of delaying payments and failing to meet its minimum order commitment. It claimed to have suffered losses of approximately Rs 1.88 crore.

The Court observed that the dispute extended beyond pending invoices. It involved questions concerning the termination of the agreement, the parties' obligations towards the goats, the supply and use of plasma, confidential information and the expenses of maintaining the herd.

It considered the risk that changes to the immunisation and veterinary procedures could affect the goats' health and productivity. The Court held that interim protection was necessary to preserve the subject matter of the dispute until the parties' claims could be decided in arbitration.

The Court directed Swaraj not to sell, transfer, shift, slaughter or dispose of the goats in a manner that would defeat the order. It also restrained the company from selling or supplying the plasma or products obtained from the goats to third parties.

Swaraj was further directed to preserve the plasma, stated by Advy to comprise approximately 248 bottles, and relevant records concerning the goats, their health, immunisation and plasma collection.

The Court also directed the appointment of a Commissioner to inspect the farm, verify the number and condition of the goats and prepare an inventory of the plasma. The first inspection is to be conducted, as far as possible, within seven days.

Advy was directed to deposit Rs 57.34 lakh towards pending invoices and Rs 20.25 lakh as security in relation to the proposed purchase price of the goats, within seven days. It was also directed to bear the reasonable and actual expenses of maintaining the herd. The Court fixed Rs 28.07 lakh per month as the provisional maintenance amount, subject to verification.

The Court clarified that the interim directions do not decide ownership of the goats or plasma, the validity of the termination notice or the parties' other contractual disputes. These issues have been left open for arbitration.

Advy was directed to take steps to commence arbitration within 90 days.