Delhi High Court Slams Cryptic Patent Refusal, Remands Fertin Pharma Application For Re-Consideration

The Delhi High Court on 18 February set aside an order by the Assistant Controller of Patents and Designs that had rejected a patent application from Fertin Pharma A/S, observing that the regulator failed to provide the requisite reasoning expected of a quasi-judicial authority. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed that the original refusal was “cryptic,” whereas reasoning is “the bedrock of all orders, including those passed by quasi-judicial authorities.” The Court was hearing an appeal under...

Delhi High Court Says Patent Amendments Permissible At Appellate Stage, Sets Aside Daikin Refusal

The Delhi High Court on 26 February reiterated that patent amendments are permissible even at the appellate stage, so long as they fall within the statutory framework of the Patents Act. Justice Jyoti Singh partially allowed the appeal filed by Daikin Industries Ltd, setting aside the Patent Office order that had earlier denied the company a patent for its 'Shell-And-Plate Heat Exchanger.' Observing that the specific modifications proposed by the company were permissible, as they neither...

Arbitral Tribunal's Interim Relief Meant To Preserve Arbitration, Not Secure Speculative Claims: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has observed that interim relief under Section 17 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act is meant to preserve the fruits of arbitration and cannot be used to secure a claimant against speculative future contingencies. Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar in a judgment delivered on February 26, observed: “Section 17 of the A&C Act is designed to preserve the fruits of arbitration where a real and imminent risk is established; it is not intended to secure a claimant...

Delhi High Court Refers Suit Alleging Copyright Infringement To Arbitration As Dispute Stems From Agreement

The Delhi High Court has recently referred to arbitration a commercial suit alleging copyright infringement and diversion of business after holding that the dispute, in the facts of the case, arose from the parties' contractual collaboration. Justice Tejas Karia passed the order while allowing an application filed under Section 8 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act seeking reference of the dispute to arbitration. The suit had been filed by Terix Computer Service India Pvt. Ltd., which...

General Contempt Jurisdiction Cannot Be Invoked Directly For Breach Of Arbitral Interim Orders: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on 5 February held that parties cannot bypass the arbitral process by approaching the High Court directly for alleged violation of an interim order passed by an arbitral tribunal. Any contempt proceedings must follow the procedural framework under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. Justice Saurabh Banerjee dismissed a contempt petition filed by Renaissance Buildcon Company Pvt Ltd and its directors, while noting that the respondents, Tarjinder Kumar Bansal and...

Delhi High Court Grants Temporary Relief To Mankind: Restrains Copy Of MANFORCE Condom Artwork And Taglines

The Delhi High Court has recently granted an ex-parte ad-interim injunction in favour of Mankind Consumer Products Private Limited, restraining Anondita Medicare Limited and the other entities behind the impugned Instagram pages from using social media content that allegedly copies the original artistic works and taglines of its popular 'MANFORCE' condom brand. On February 25, 2026, Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed that a side-by-side comparison of the Instagram posts “clearly would depict,...

Delhi High Court Directs Removal Of 'GRAND MASTI' Trademark For Similarity To Radico Khaitan's 'MASTIH'

The Delhi High Court recently allowed a rectification petition filed by Radico Khaitan Ltd., formerly Rampur Distillery & Chemical Company Ltd., directing the removal and cancellation of the 'GRAND MASTI' trademark registration held by Mohit Petrochemical Pvt. Ltd. from the Trade Marks Register. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, in a judgment delivered on 27 February 2026, observed that the registered mark was deceptively similar to Radico Khaitan's established 'MASTIH' brand, in use...

Delhi High Court Sets Aside Bank-Issued LOCs Against Pomegranate Coaters Directors and Guarantors

The Delhi High Court on 18 February set aside Look Out Circulars (LOCs) issued by Bank of Baroda against the directors and guarantors of Pomegranate Coaters Pvt. Ltd. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav was hearing petitions by the directors, promoters, and guarantors of Pomegranate Coaters, who had availed credit facilities from the bank.Following defaults, the bank initiated recovery proceedings under the SARFAESI Act and the Recovery of Debts Due to Financial Institutions Act, and...

Delhi High Court Grants Interim Injunction To Novartis Against 'NOVIETS' For Trademark Infringement

The Delhi High Court on 28 February granted an interim injunction in favour of the global healthcare company Novartis, restraining several Bihar-based entities, including Noviets Pharma and Noviets Veterinary Private Limited, from using the marks 'NOVIETS' and its associated logos. Justice Tejas Karia observed that the contested marks were deceptively similar to the well-known 'NOVARTIS' trademark and logo, noting a likelihood of confusion among the public. The Court emphasised that a...

Income Tax Authority Must Record Prima Facie View On Taxability Before Issuing Withholding Certificate: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that while issuing a certificate for lower deduction of tax at source under Section 197 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, the competent authority is required to record a prima facie view on the taxability of the receipts, and that such certificates cannot be issued mechanically or without reasons.A division bench of Justices Dinesh Mehta and Vinod Kumar made the observation while disposing of a writ petition filed by Ireland-based Workday Limited, which had challenged a...

Delhi High Court Upholds Rejection Of Crystal Crop's Herbicidal Composition Patent

The Delhi High Court has dismissed an appeal filed by Crystal Crop Protection Ltd., upholding a decision by the Assistant Controller of Patents and Designs to reject a patent application for a herbicidal composition designed for field crops.Justice Tejas Karia upheld the Assistant Controller's finding that the proposed invention lacked an inventive step and fell under the statutory bar of Section 3(e) of the Patents Act, as it constituted a 'mere admixture' of known substances. The Court held...

Delhi High Court Bars Groundless Copyright Threats Against TV9 Over Brief Use Of Third-Party Footage

The Delhi High Court has declared that certain TV9 Network news videos uploaded on its YouTube channels do not infringe the copyright of third parties and restrained four foreign entities from issuing further groundless copyright threats against the broadcaster.The videos covered events such as Hurricane Laura in the United States, heavy snowfall and floods, the Israel–Hamas conflict, and the 2023 Chinese balloon incident. In a judgment dated February 28, 2026, Justice Tejas Karia considered...