Madras High Court Restrains MRF's Former Dealer, Another Delhi Entity From Using Its Trademark

The Madras High Court has granted temporary relief to MRF restraining two Delhi-based entities from using its trademarks in relation to their business after MRF alleged that one of them continued displaying the marks at trade exhibitions despite a written undertaking not to do so. Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy passed the order on April 29 in a suit filed by MRF seeking relief for alleged trademark infringement, copyright infringement, and passing off against Conveyo Belt Centre and Shri Ram...

Madras High Court Says No Cheque Bounce Prosecution If Underlying Arbitral Award Was Challenged

The Madras High Court has recently quashed cheque bounce proceedings against a builder after finding that he had challenged the arbitral award cited as the basis of the alleged liability before the cheque was allegedly issued. Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan said, “Even before the date of issuance of the cheque i.e. 15.07.2019, the accused challenged the very arbitration award before this Court as early as on 11.02.2019 in Arb.OP.Nos.381 and 382 of 2019. Therefore, the accused would not have issued...

Private Arbitration Cannot Override Statutory Labour Adjudication: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has recently held that statutory labour adjudication cannot be displaced by private contractual arbitration where statutory worker rights are involved.A Division Bench of Justice P Velmurugan and Justice K Govindarajan Thilakavadi observed, “While the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 governs voluntary arbitration, the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 is a specialized social legislation designed to protect workers, and its mandatory procedures cannot be over ridden by...

Madras High Court Restrains Unauthorised Broadcast Of Upcoming Varun Dhawan Film 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai'

The Madras High Court has restrained unauthorised broadcast of Tips Films' upcoming Varun Dhawan-starrer Hindi film 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' after the company apprehended copyright infringement ahead of its May 22 release. Justice P.B. Balaji passed the ruling on May 6. The production company told the Court that it holds CBFC certificates for the film's teaser and its audio-visual songs dated April 2 and April 16. With the film set to release on May 22, the company said it...

HC Master's Order In Arbitration Execution Treated As Commercial Division Order, Not Appealable: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has recently held that when a Master passes an order in execution of an arbitral award arising out of a commercial dispute, the order is equivalent to one passed by the Commercial Division of the High Court itself and cannot be challenged again before the Commercial Division. "When a Master passes an order in an Execution Petition filed under Section 36 of the Arbitration Act, the said order is equivalent to the order of the Commercial Division of the High Court and there...

Madras HC Refuses To Strike Off Suit In Dispute Over 49th South India Motor Rally Despite Arbitration Clause

The Madras High Court has refused to strike off a civil suit over disputes relating to a motorsports event, including the 49th South India Rally, holding that the existence of an arbitration clause does not by itself bar the jurisdiction of a civil court. “Further, the existence of an arbitration clause does not ipso facto bar the jurisdiction of the Civil Court unless the procedure contemplated under the Section 8 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 is duly invoked before the...

Madras High Court Paves Way for Release of Gautham Vasudev Menon's Dhruva Natchathiram Subject To Conditions

The Madras High Court recently permitted the release of Dhruva Natchathiram, a Gautham Vasudev Menon directorial, subject to the condition that pre-release payments be made to creditors and that all revenues from the film be routed through a court-monitored bank account. The film, which stars Chiyaan Vikram in the lead role, has been delayed by nearly eight years since it was first slated for release. The injunction had originally been obtained in 2023 by two parties to the production...

Re-Export Does Not Absolve Importers From Penalty For Misdeclaration Under Customs Act: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has held that an importer cannot escape penalties for misdeclaration and use of false documents merely by opting to re-export the goods after detection. "The order of re-export on payment of redemption fine will not absolve the penal consequence envisaged under the Customs Act, 1962. If this proposition of the CESTAT is to be approved, then all illegal importers, if caught, will offer to pay a paltry sum as fine in lieu of redemption of the goods and re-export the...

Only High Courts Can Entertain Section 34 Challenges In International Arbitration: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court on 21 April, held that Section 34 challenges arising from international commercial arbitration must be filed before the High Court and not District Courts, in view of Section 2(1)(e) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 as amended in 2015. Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy upheld the order of the Principal District Judge, Salem returning the Section 34 petition filed by Waterbury Farrel against Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Shriram EPC Limited for...

Madras High Court Protects Ayushmann Khurrana Starrer 'Pati Patni Aur Woh Do' From Apprehended Piracy

The Madras High Court recently protected Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan's Pati Patni Aur Woh Do from apprehended unauthorised broadcast by granting an ad interim injunction in favour of its producer. Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy restrained internet service providers and cable TV operators from facilitating the unlawful broadcast of the film, which is slated for release on May 15, 2026. The court noted that “irreversible injury will occur, unless unlawful broadcast is prevented.” ...

Madras High Court Protects “Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart” From Piracy Ahead of Release

The Madras High Court has protected the upcoming Hindi film “Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart (Hridayam)” from apprehended piracy, observing that failure to prevent unlawful broadcast could result in “irreversible injury.” In an order dated April 30, 2026, Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy granted interim injunctions against internet service providers and cable TV operators arrayed as respondents in a suit filed by Creativeland Studios Entertainment LLP. The court observed that the film is...

Madras HC Injuncts Indian Distributor From Passing Off Italian Manufacturer Rubinetterie Bresciane's Products

The Madras High Court recently granted a permanent injunction in favour of Italian plumbing products manufacturer Rubinetterie Bresciane Bonomi SpA, restraining its former Indian distributor, Lehry Instrumentation, from using its trademark. The court set aside a Single Judge's judgment that had dismissed the company's passing-off suit and decreed Lehry's defamation claim. A Division Bench of Justice P. Velmurugan and Justice K. Govindarajan Thilakavadi set aside a Single Judge's common...