High Court
Madras High Court Revives 'Modern Kitchens' Trademark Scrapped Over Technicality
The Madras High Court has come to the relief of Mangaluru-based snack food manufacturer Modern Kitchens, reviving its trademark application after the Trade Marks Registrar scrapped it over an unsigned affidavit filed during the COVID-19 lockdown. Justice N. Anand Venkatesh held that the Registrar was not justified in treating the application for the mark “MODERN KITCHENS' Delite in Every Bite” as abandoned under Rule 46(2) of the Trade Mark Rules, 2017. In 2018, ACE Foods filed a trademark...
'Not Unknown to Law': Telangana High Court Upholds Reserve Price Reduction After Repeated Failed SARFAESI Auctions
The Telangana High Court has recently upheld the phased reduction of the reserve price fixed for the auction sale of a mortgaged immovable property under the SARFAESI Act and dismissed writ petitions filed by the borrower. A Division Bench of Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya and Justice Gadi Praveen Kumar affirmed the order of the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal and observed that “the process of marking down of the Reserve Price is not unknown to law.” The Bench examined Rule 8(5) of the...
First Appeal Pre-Deposit Sufficient: Jharkhand High Court Permits GSTAT Appeal Without Additional Deposit
The Jharkhand High Court has permitted Ranchi-based manufacturer Ashirwad Food Industries to file an appeal before the GST Appellate Tribunal without making any additional pre-deposit, noting that ₹23.85 lakh had already been deposited at the first appellate stage. A Division Bench of Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar found “substance in the contention” of the petitioner and held: “Considering the deposit of Rs.23.85 lakhs already made at the first appellate stage, we agree...
Madras High Court Orders Adjudication Of GST On Royalty Paid To State, Bars Implementation Till Supreme Court Ruling
The Madras High Court has directed GST authorities to adjudicate a show cause notice proposing to levy GST on seigniorage/royalty fee payable to the Government of Tamil Nadu but ordered that implementation of the assessment order shall remain in abeyance until the Supreme Court decides the issue. Justice C. Saravanan was hearing a petition challenging Show Cause Notice dated September 29, 2025. The notice proposes to levy GST on seigniorage/royalty fee payable to the State. The court noted...
Copy Of Arbitration Agreement Sufficient Where Original Not Available: Calcutta High Court
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday held that an application seeking reference to arbitration cannot be rejected merely because the original arbitration agreement or a certified copy is not produced, if the statutory requirements under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act are otherwise satisfied. A Single Bench of Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya set aside the orders of the trial court and the first appellate court, which had refused to refer the parties to arbitration. The court observed that...
Composite GST Show Cause Notices For Multiple Financial Years Maintainable: Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court has recently held that a composite show cause notice issued under Sections 73 and 74 of the GST Act covering multiple financial years is legally maintainable, rejecting the contention that adjudication proceedings must be confined to a single “tax period” or financial year. A Bench of Justice Saumitra Dayal Singh and Justice Indrajeet Shukla ruled that the statutory scheme expressly permits the Proper Officer to issue statements for periods beyond those mentioned in the...
Withdrawal Of Arbitrator Does Not Automatically Terminate Arbitral Proceedings: Bombay High Court
The court revived the stalled arbitration between Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd. and Ghosh Brothers Automobiles after appointing former Bombay HC Judge Justice R.Y. Ganoo (Retd.) as substitute arbitrator
Telangana High Court Restrains Ex Karix Mobile Employees From Sharing Trade Secrets With Competitor
Holding that the sudden loss of a major client gave rise to an “unshakable inference” of breach of confidence, the Telangana High Court has set aside a trial court order and granted interim protection to Karix Mobile Private Limited against its former senior employees who joined competitor OneXtel Limited. A Division Bench of Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya and Justice Gadi Praveen Kumar allowed the appeal and overturned the October 6, 2025 order of the trial court, which had rejected Karix's...
Delhi High Court Upholds ₹2.57 Crore Award Against AAI In Mangalore Airport Control Tower Construction Delay Case
The Delhi High Court has recently dismissed a challenge by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and upheld an arbitral award directing it to pay Rs. 2.57 Crore with interest and Rs 7 lakh as costs to URC Construction (P) Ltd. The Court held that the 477-day delay in constructing a new control tower-cum-technical block at Mangalore International Airport was attributable to AAI. The award grants interest at 10% per annum from September 4, 2017, till the date of the award, and further 10% from...
Delhi High Court Restrains Misuse Of HCL Trademark In Alleged Fraudulent 'HCL Mediclinic' Scheme
The Delhi High Court has issued an ex-parte ad-interim injunction to protect HCL Corporation Pvt Ltd against unidentified parties who are allegedly misrepresenting themselves as company officials to dupe members of the public and job seekers. According to the suit filed by HCL, the company recently became aware of illegal and fraudulent activities by rogue third parties. HCL alleges that these individuals have been issuing fraudulent emails, calls, and messages while posing as HCL employees. ...
Delhi High Court Holds Breach of Settlement Not Contempt In Siemens‑DAMEPL Arbitration
The Delhi High Court has held that contempt proceedings cannot be initiated if the judgment debtor defaults, when there is a settlement agreement between parties specifying the consequences of non-payment. A Bench of Justice Sachin Datta were hearing a case between Siemens Limited and Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (“Siemens”), the decree holders, and Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited (“DAMEPL”), the judgment debtor, arising from an arbitral award which partly allowed Siemens' claims. ...