Delhi HC Refuses to Reject Astral's Trademark Suit Against Astral Marketing Over Justdial Listing Accessible In Delhi

The Delhi High Court has recently refused to throw out a trademark infringement suit filed by Astral Ltd against Astral Marketing Syndicate. The Court observed that the defendant's Justdial listing enabled customers in Delhi to access product information and contact the business, thereby prima facie giving rise to part of the cause of action in the capital. Justice Tejas Karia held that the functionality of the listing could reasonably be construed as facilitating commercial transactions. The...

Operator Of MPSTDC Motel Cannot Invoke State Ownership To Claim Property Tax Exemption: MP High Court

The Jabalpur Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has held that a private company operating a tourism corporation-owned motel for commercial purposes is liable to pay property tax and other charges and cannot claim exemption from property tax on the ground that the property belongs to the State. The court, however, ruled that the operator could not be made liable for any period before it entered into the agreement to run the motel. Justice Vishal Mishra passed the ruling in a petition filed...

Google Not Bound By Earlier Orders To Proactively Monitor Use Of DRS Logistics Marks In Ads: Delhi High Court

Google cannot be held in contempt over third-party advertisements using DRS Logistics' trademarks in ad text, ad titles and URLs, the Delhi High Court has held, ruling that earlier orders did not require the company to "proactively monitor and prevent" such use. Justice Tejas Karia passed the order on Monday. "Therefore, the Judgments do not impose any obligation upon Defendant Nos. 1 and 3 to proactively monitor and prevent the use of the Subject Marks in Ad-Text, Ad-Title, or URL in...

Arbitration Plea Must Be Filed Before Leave-to-Defend Application In Summary Suit: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has recently held that a defendant in a summary suit cannot seek reference of the dispute to arbitration after first filing an application for leave to defend, ruling that such an application constitutes the first statement on the substance of the dispute.A Division Bench of Justices P. Velmurugan and K. Govindarajan Thilakavadi rendered the ruling while dismissing an appeal filed by ETA General Private Limited against an order refusing to refer a USD 19 million recovery...

Delhi Court Denies Bail To Ex-RCOM Executive Over Alleged Loan Fund Diversion Used To Acquire Yacht, Overseas Apartment

A Delhi court on Monday denied bail to Punit Narendra Garg, former Executive Director of Reliance Communications Ltd. (RCOM), in a case arising from allegations that Reliance Anil Ambani Group entities diverted loan funds linked to borrowings of more than ₹40,185 crore to acquire a luxury yacht and an overseas apartment. The court held that Garg had failed to satisfy the conditions for bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Special Judge (PC Act) CBI Ajay Gupta of the Rouse Avenue...

Interim Relief Under Arbitration Act Cannot Extend Rights Beyond Parties' Agreement: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court recently reiterated that interim protection in arbitration matters is not meant to extend rights beyond what parties have agreed between themselves. The court made the observation while refusing Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd.'s request to continue a USD 14.82 million bank guarantee furnished by Swiber Offshore Construction Pte. Ltd. The request came after an arbitral tribunal rejected ONGC's liquidated damages claim and directed return of the security. A...

Delhi High Court Restrains Ex-Franchisee From Using Toni & Guy Brand Pending Arbitration

On 26 May, the Delhi High Court granted interim protection under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and restrained a former franchisee from using the “Toni & Guy” trademarks and associated intellectual property pending arbitration. Justice Mini Pushkarna held that a valid arbitration agreement governed the dispute and protected the franchisor's brand rights during the pendency of proceedings and allowed the petition filed by Profile India International. The Bench...

Final Termination Order Not Needed To Invoke Arbitration: Madhya Pradesh High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on 13 May held that a show cause notice proposing termination, coupled with a reply denying the allegations, constitutes a “dispute” sufficient to invoke arbitration, even in the absence of a final termination order. Justice Pavan Kumar Dwivedi rejected Indian Oil Corporation Limited's (IOCL) objection that the petition under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 was premature and appointed Justice (Retd.) Virender Singh as the sole Arbitrator....

Bombay High Court Upholds Interim Injunction On Use Of New Indian Express Mark Outside Southern States

The Bombay High Court on Monday upheld an interim injunction restraining Express Publications (Madurai) Pvt. Ltd., publisher of 'The New Indian Express,' from using the "New Indian Express" name for events, programs, or business activities outside the five southern states and Union Territories specified in a 1995 Memorandum of Settlement (MoS). The court dismissed the company's appeal against a November 2025 order passed by a Single Judge. A division bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and...

Presiding Arbitrator Has No Noteworthy Superior Role Over Other Arbitrators Except On Procedure: Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court on Friday observed that a presiding arbitrator has no noteworthy superior role over the other members of an arbitral tribunal except in matters of procedure where authorised by the parties or the tribunal. Justice S. Manu observed, “It is clear from the arbitration clause that the third arbitrator nominated by the two arbitrators chosen by the parties shall preside the tribunal. The learned counsel for the petitioner is correct in contending that the presiding...

Commercial Courts Act's 120-Day Written Statement Limit Inapplicable To Admiralty Suits: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has condoned a 135-day delay in filing a written statement in an Admiralty Suit. The Court held that the mandatory 120-day deadline prescribed for commercial disputes does not govern proceedings under the Admiralty Act, 2017. The Court reached this conclusion even though disputes relating to admiralty and maritime law are categorised as commercial disputes under the Commercial Courts Act. Justice M.A. Abdul Hakhim held that Admiralty Suits are governed by the original...

Notice Returned As 'Unclaimed' At Correct Address Suffices For Deemed Service: Kerala High Court

A cheque demand notice returned with the postal endorsement "unclaimed" is sufficient to satisfy the statutory requirement of notice in a cheque dishonour case, the Kerala High Court has held. Justice A Badharudeen, allowing an appeal against an acquittal recorded by a magistrate's court in Kozhikode, held that when a demand notice is issued to the drawer's correct address, its return with the endorsement "unclaimed" would amount to deemed acceptance unless the accused proves otherwise. The...