Saket Court Rejects Jagran Prakashan's Trademark Claim Over “JAGRAN”, Imposes ₹10 Lakh Costs

The Saket District Court at New Delhi, on 25 May dismissed Jagran Prakashan Limited's trademark infringement and passed off suit against agricultural magazine Krishi Jagran, holding that a proprietor cannot monopolise a commonly used word through trademark registration when another party has established prior and continuous use. District Judge Arul Varma vacated the injunction order dated 29 September 2020, and imposed costs of Rs. 10 lakhs on Jagran Prakashan for dragging the defendants into...

Office-Bearers Can Face NI Act Prosecution If Complaint Shows Their Role In Transaction: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday held that criminal liability for cheque dishonour cannot be fastened on a person merely because they hold an office in a society, while making it clear that proceedings cannot be quashed at the threshold where the complaint discloses sufficient factual material linking them to the underlying transaction. A Bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice N.V. Anjaria partly allowed an appeal filed by Mansi Finance (Chennai) Ltd against a Madras High Court order...

Karnataka HC Directs Takedown Of AI-Morphed Content Depicting Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade, Family

The Karnataka High Court has directed the State of Karnataka and the Bengaluru CEN Police Station to take immediate steps to ensure removal of AI-generated, morphed, manipulated, and fabricated images and video content depicting Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, the Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, and his family members. The content is to be removed from all social media platforms, URLs, and press and media platforms within one week from receipt of a copy of the order. Justice S.R. Krishna...

'Security Cheque' Not Statutorily Defined, Not Exempt From Cheque Bounce Proceedings: Himachal Pradesh HC

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has refused to quash cheque dishonour proceedings at the threshold in a case where the accused claimed the dishonoured cheque had been issued only as security. Justice Sandeep Sharma said a cheque described as a “security cheque” is not automatically excluded from cheque dishonour proceedings. “Needless to say, expression “Security Cheque” is not a statutorily defined expression in the Negotiable Instruments Act, rather same is to be inferred from the pleadings...

Is ChatGPT An Intermediary Under IT Act? Calcutta High Court Prima Facie Says No

The Calcutta High Court has, in a case examining how generative AI platforms fit within the Information Technology Act, prima facie held that ChatGPT ought to be treated as an “originator” rather than an “intermediary.” The observations came in IndiaMart InterMesh Ltd's suit against OpenAI, where the classification of ChatGPT became central after the B2B platform argued that the AI tool was omitting links to IndiaMart in response to certain user queries while allegedly providing links for rival...

Supreme Court Refuses To Vacate Stay On FIR Against WinZO, Director Over Alleged BOT Use To Defeat Players

The Supreme Court on Monday (May 18) refused to interfere with the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order staying further proceedings in an FIR against WinZO Pvt Ltd and its director over allegations that the gaming platform used “BOTs” to cheat users. It requested the High Court to endeavour to decide the matter by June 15, 2026. A Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh said there was force in the submission that courts ordinarily should not stall investigations....

Calcutta High Court Dismisses Challenge To IOCL's Revocation Of LPG Distributorship Reconstitution Approval

The Calcutta High Court has dismissed a challenge to Indian Oil Corporation Limited's decision revoking in-principle approval for reconstitution of an LPG distributorship from proprietorship to partnership, holding that the reconstitution process had not attained finality as the revised distributorship agreement remained unexecuted. Justice Smita Das De observed that while judicial review remained available against arbitrary State action, the court's role in the present dispute was limited. ...

Andhra Pradesh HC Sets Aside Order Refusing Interim Arrest Protection As Debtor Was Yet To Be Adjudicated Insolvent

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has recently held said courts must exercise “extreme caution” in matters involving personal liberty even in civil proceedings, while granting relief to a man facing arrest in execution proceedings during the pendency of his insolvency case. Justice Ravi Cheemalapati observed, "It is relevant here to note that the Constitutional Courts have consistently emphasized that courts must exercise extreme caution when dealing with matters involving personal liberty,...

Rajasthan High Court Denies Bail In Rs 2.67 Crore Franchise Fraud, Cites Pattern Of Misconduct

The Rajasthan High Court denied bail to the director of Taskar Global Pvt Ltd, accused of inducing people to invest large sums in a franchise business by falsely promising high returns and a profitable business model. Justice Praveer Bhatnagar was hearing bail applications filed by the accused in connection with two FIRs registered over allegations that he, along with others, persuaded complainants to invest money by promising franchise rights in a healthcare business. The prosecution argued...

Bombay High Court Pulls Up Petitioner Over Plea To Stay Sir Ratan Tata Trust Board Meeting, Petition Withdrawn

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday disposed of as withdrawn a petition seeking a stay on the May 16 board meeting of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) after expressing serious displeasure over the manner in which the proceedings were instituted.A vacation bench of Justices Advait Sethna and Sandesh Patil expressed shock after noting that petitioner Suresh Patilkhede had sought a stay on the SRTT board meeting based on representations pending before the Charity Commissioner even though those...

Delhi High Court Orders Perjury Proceedings Against Manipal Business Solutions Over Alleged Fabricated Documents

The Delhi High Court has directed initiation of prosecution proceedings against Manipal Business Solutions over alleged false statements and use of allegedly fabricated documents in court proceedings against its former employees. The court found a prima facie case that the company made false claims in its lawsuit against employees alleged to have joined rival firm Aurigain Consultants. Explaining why it warranted criminal action, the court held,“Accordingly, this Court is of the opinion that...

Karnataka High Court Holds KPIDFE Act, Like MPID, Has Priority Over SARFAESI Claims

The Karnataka High Court has held that secured creditors cannot claim priority under the SARFAESI Act over properties attached under the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Act, 2004 (KPIDFE Act), and such attachment would prevail in determining the priority of claims. A coram of Justice Lalitha Kanneganti dismissed a writ petition filed by Canara Bank challenging the refusal of the Sub-Registrar to register a sale certificate issued in favour of an...