Journo Rajat Sharma & India TV secure interim win in "Aap Ki Adalat" vs "Baap Ki Adalat" suit in Delhi HC

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to veteran journalist Rajat Sharma, his show 'Aap Ki Adalat' and television channel India TV interim relief in a plea for protection of their trademark and personality rights. 

India TV and Rajat Sharma had moved the Delhi High Court seeking protection against the alleged misuse of the India TV logo and the Aap Ki Adalat show and mark by one 'Jhandiya TV' utilizing the name and logo "Baap Ki Adalat".

A single judge bench of Justice Anish Dayal restrained the defendant Ravindra Kumar Choudhary from using photos, videos or name of Rajat Sharma either as trademark/logo/trading style, domain name, social media posts, audio video content, or in relation to any services violating the rights of the journalist or India TV.

Issuing a three-fold order in favour of India TV and Rajat Sharma, the Delhi High Court barred the infringing party from using the disputed trademark/logo, such as Baap Ki Adalat, or any deceptively similar marks/logos to India TV and Aap Ki Adalat across mediums including domain names, social media posts, audio-video content, and related services.

Further, protecting Rajat Sharma's personality rights, the bench prohibited 'Jhandiya TV' and its representatives from using Sharma's photos, videos, or name in any form.

To curb the ongoing violations, the Court also ordered take down of violating content from internet platforms - including X (formerly Twitter), YouTube (Google Inc), and Facebook (Meta).

This includes social media posts/links containing the infringing trademarks/logos and additional links identified by India TV must also be removed.

Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayyar and advocates Sudeep Chatterjee, Kunal Vats, Tanya Arora, Jaydeep Roy and Sanyam Suri appeared for India TV and Rajat Sharma.

Cause Title: Independent News Service Private Limited & Anr v Ravindra Kumar Choudhary & Ors .