Litigant Cannot Blame Counsel For 968-Day Delay In Customs Appeal Without Explaining Inaction: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that a litigant cannot seek condonation of an inordinate delay by merely blaming their counsel for failing to communicate an order, especially when the litigant themselves remained inactive and made no enquiry about the outcome of the proceedings for nearly three years.The Division Bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Shail Jain dismissed three customs appeals challenging CESTAT 's refusal to condone a delay of approximately 968 days in filing appeals against...

DRT Registrar Cannot Suo Motu Refer Applications To Presiding Officer: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that the Registrar of a Debts Recovery Tribunal (DRT) cannot suo motu place an unnumbered securitisation application (SA) before the Presiding Officer to decide questions of maintainability or locus standi. The Registrar's role is limited to scrutinising applications for defects, giving applicants an opportunity to cure them and, where defects remain, declining registration through a reasoned order.“The Rule does not give any power to the Registrar to place the...

Delhi High Court Temporarily Restrains Sale Of 'THUNDER 15000' Beer In InBrew's Trademark Suit

The Delhi High Court has restrained the Bhutan-based manufacturer of alcoholic beverages sold under the mark 'THUNDER 15000' and the entity importing, selling, and distributing the beer in Jharkhand from dealing in products under the mark. The interim restraint will remain in force until the next hearing on December 21, 2026.The order came in a trademark infringement suit filed by InBrew Beverages Private Limited over its registered 'THUNDERBOLT' mark.Justice Jyoti Singh passed the order on an...

Delhi High Court Upholds Injunction Against 'Noviets' Pharma In Trademark Dispute With Novartis

The Delhi High Court has dismissed an appeal filed by Noviets Pharma against an interim order restraining it from using the mark 'NOVIETS'. The bench agreed prima facie that the mark was deceptively similar to Novartis AG's registered 'NOVARTIS' trademark. A division bench of Justice V. Kameswar Rao and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora upheld the February 28, 2026 order passed by the single judge. The order had granted a temporary injunction against the appellants and restrained them from...

Delhi High Court To Decide Constitutional Validity Of Cess On Pan Masala Manufacturers

The Delhi High Court is set to examine the constitutional validity of the levy of compensation cess on pan masala manufacturers under the Health Security se National Security Cess Act, 2025.The Division Bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Shail Jain has listed for final disposal two petitions filed by Dharampal Satyapal Ltd. and the Smokeless Tobacco Association challenging the levy of compensation cess on pan masala and its constitutional validity. The matters will be heard on September...

Kerala High Court Limits Section 11 Arbitration Act Inquiry To Agreement, Refers NCLT Issues To Tribunal

The Kerala High Court on 14 August held that questions concerning pending proceedings before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and limitation must be considered by the Arbitral Tribunal at the stage of arbitration, observing that a Court's enquiry under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 is primarily confined to the existence of an arbitration agreement. Justice S. Manu allowed an arbitration request arising from a dispute over 117 equity shares in Tharakan Web...

Delhi HC Upholds Ratnagiri Gas Award, Says Patent Illegality Unavailable In International Arbitration

The Delhi High Court on 17 August dismissed Ratnagiri Gas and Power Private Limited's challenge to an arbitral award directing it to refund USD 714,760.74 with 6% simple interest to Singapore-based Dinowic Pte Ltd. in a dispute concerning the sale and lifting of Naphtha from Dabhol, Maharashtra. A Bench comprising Justice Mini Pushkarna held that the scope of interference under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 is narrower in an international commercial arbitration, and...

Madras High Court Directs Provisional Release Of 119 Machines, Rejects Retrospective Customs Rule

The Madras High Court on 3 August held that a Customs notification that came into force after the shipment of imported goods could not be applied retrospectively to deny provisional release of the goods. Justice Hemant Chandangoudar directed the Customs authorities to consider the request of S.P. Associates, represented by its proprietor Yogendra Pratap, for provisional release of 119 used digital multifunction printing, copying and scanning machines imported under a Bill of Entry dated 17 July...

GST Officers Cannot Keep Tax Consultant's Office Sealed After Search Ends: Gauhati High Court

The Gauhati High Court on 10 August held that GST authorities cannot keep business premises sealed after completing a search when the owner had not denied them access. Justice Devashis Baruah directed the Assam GST Department to de-seal the office of Sri Surendra Sharma, a tax consultant operating under the name Sharma and Associates in Bokajan, Assam. The Bench held: “...the goods mentioned in the Annexure to the Order of Prohibition in FORM GST INS-03 can under no circumstances be said to be...

Delhi High Court Upholds ₹46.92 Lakh Bajaj Electricals Arbitral Award Against ITDC

The Delhi High Court on 17 August upheld the arbitral award directing India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) to pay Bajaj Electricals Ltd. Rs. 46.92 lakh along with pre-award, pendente lite and future interest, finding that the arbitrator had based the findings on the evidence and contractual terms on record. Justice Mini Pushkarna noted that courts cannot interfere with an arbitral tribunal's interpretation of a contract under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996,...

'India Gate' Trademark Dispute: Delhi High Court Allows KRBL To Add Infringement Claim Over 'Royal Gate'

The Delhi High Court has allowed KRBL Limited to amend its 2016 suit against J.R. Rice India Pvt. Ltd., allowing it to add a claim of trademark infringement over the use of “ROYAL GATE” with a device of “INDIA GATE." The suit originally sought relief on the ground of passing off.Justice Jyoti Singh allowed the amendment on August 12, 2026, while directing KRBL to pay Rs. 50,000 to the Delhi High Court Advocates Welfare Trust within two weeks. The cost was imposed as the court found that no...

Madras High Court Quashes Geeco Enercon Reassessment, Says New Regime Cannot Revive Limitation

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has held that the Income Tax Department cannot initiate reassessment proceedings under the new reassessment regime after the limitation period under the old regime has expired, and quashed the reassessment proceedings against Geeco Enercon Private Limited for Assessment Year (AY) 2015-16. Justice C. Saravanan held that the proceedings the Income Tax Department initiated in August 2024 were barred by limitation and quashed the order dated 31 August 2024...