Delhi High Court Temporarily Restrains MVP Healthcare From Using 'House Of Doctors' Mark

The Delhi High Court has restrained MVP Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. from using “HOD House of Doctors” or any other mark deceptively similar to the H.O.D. and House of Diagnostics trademarks of the HOD Group.

The group provides diagnostic and healthcare services.

Justice Jyoti Singh passed the ex parte ad interim order while hearing a suit filed by House of Diagnostics LLP, HOD Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. and House of Diagnostics Healthcare Pvt. Ltd.

The three entities constitute the HOD Group. They are engaged in medical and health diagnostics, pathology, radiology and therapy services. They told the court that they conceived and adopted the HOUSE OF DIAGNOSTICS/H.O.D mark in 2008.

The group submitted that its rights in the H.O.D marks had been recognised by the court in three earlier proceedings. In one, an appeal was disposed of in terms of a settlement under which the appellant agreed to block the domain HOD.life.

In another, the court restrained the use of “House of Pathology” in 2023. The suit was later decreed in 2024. In April this year, another order restrained the use of “HOD Home of Diagnostics”.

The dispute with MVP Healthcare arose after the group came across its interactive website, houseofdoctors.in, in May 2026. The website prominently displayed the impugned mark and offered healthcare facilities, patient care coordination, consultations, health check-ups, medical admissions, surgeries and employee engagement services.

The website was accessible throughout India, including Delhi. It also allowed consumers to book appointments and consultations online.

The HOD Group had previously opposed MVP Healthcare's trademark applications. The company had filed applications for the HOD mark in Classes 35 and 44 in April 2021.

The Trademarks Registry objected to both applications, citing the H.O.D. marks of the HOD Group.

MVP Healthcare had also applied to register the HOD mark for commercial and healthcare services in April 2021. The Trade Marks Registry objected to both applications, citing the H.O.D marks of the HOD Group.

One application was later withdrawn. The other was abandoned after MVP Healthcare failed to file a counter-statement to the HOD Group's opposition. Both orders had attained finality and had not been challenged, the court recorded.

The court found that the HOD Group had “made out a prima facie case for grant of ex parte ad interim injunction”. It also held that the balance of convenience lay in its favour and that the group was likely to suffer irreparable harm if interim protection was not granted.

The court noted that the HOD Group's entities were registered proprietors of the H.O.D marks, with user claimed from April 1, 2008. MVP Healthcare had entered the concerned field only in 2021, while the group had adopted the marks in 2008, much earlier.

The court therefore held that the group also had common law rights in the marks.

The court further observed that MVP Healthcare had adopted a deceptively similar mark for identical services. There was “every likelihood of confusion among members of public”, it held.

It also noted that the group recorded sales of ₹188.99 crore in 2024-25 and promotional expenditure of ₹6.67 crore during the same year. These figures reflected the goodwill and reputation it had built in the H.O.D marks.

The court ruled that the “adoption of deceptively similar mark by the Defendant is only to encash on the formidable reputation of the Plaintiffs by misrepresenting to public that the services have some connection with those of the Plaintiffs.”

It consequently held, prima facie, that MVP Healthcare was “infringing the registered HOD marks of the Plaintiffs and also passing off its goods as those of the Plaintiffs.”

The injunction application was filed under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2 read with Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The application sought an ex parte ad interim injunction, which was granted by the court.

The injunction will operate till the next date of hearing. MVP Healthcare and those acting on its behalf have been restrained from using “HOD House of Doctors” or any other mark, name, logo, monogram, or label identical or deceptively similar to the H.O.D and House of Diagnostics marks.

The restraint also covers infringement of the group's registered trademarks and copyrights and passing off.

The court also directed MVP Healthcare to remove all listings under the impugned mark from its websites and social media platforms, including houseofdoctors.in.

The listings have to be removed within two weeks from the date MVP Healthcare receives the order.

Summons have been issued to MVP Healthcare through all permissible modes. The matter is listed before the Joint Registrar on September 15, 2026.