Madras High Court
M/S Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd And ... vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd on 5 November, 2019
Author: V.K
Bench: Vineet Kothari, C.Saravanan
Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019
M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 05.11.2019
CORAM :
The Hon'ble Dr.VINEET KOTHARI, ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE
AND
The Hon'ble Mr.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN
O.S.A Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019
and CMP No.21918 of 2019 in OSA No.264 of 2019
O.S.A No.264 of 2019
1. M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd.,
Continental Chambers, 5th Floor,
15A, Hemantha Basu Sarani,
Kolkatta – 700 001
2. M/s Patanjali Ayurved Limited,
Plot No.209, Bhalawa Village,
Opposite Jaiangirpuri,
G.T. Karnal Road
Delhi – 33 ... Appellants
-vs-
Hatsun Agro Product Ltd.,
having registered Office at
No.1/20-A, Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR),
Karapakkam,
Chennai – 600 097
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Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019
M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd
and also carrying on its business at
Old No.AD-83,/New No.AD13,
Anna Nagar, Opp. IOB Towers Branch,
Chennai-600 040
represented by its Authorised Signatory .... Respondent
O.S.A Nos.284 & 285 of 2019
Hatsun Agro Product Ltd.,
having registered Office at
No.1/20-A, Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR),
Karapakkam,
Chennai – 600 097
and also carrying on its business at
Old No.AD-83,/New No.AD13,
Anna Nagar, Opp. IOB Towers Branch,
Chennai-600 040
represented by its Authorised Signatory
.... Appellant/Plaintiff
vs
1. M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd.,
Continental Chambers, 5th Floor,
15A, Hemantha Basu Sarani,
Kolkatta – 700 001
2. M/s Patanjali Ayurved Limited,
Plot No.209, Bhalawa Village,
Opposite Jaiangirpuri,
G.T. Karnal Road
Delhi – 33
... Respondents/Defendants
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Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019
M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd
O.S.A.No.264 of 2019: Appeal filed under Order XXXVI Rule 9 of the
O.S. Rules r/w clause 15 of the amended Letters Patent 1865 and read
with Section 13 of the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and
Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Act, 2018
against the order dated 05.07.2019 in Application No.2920 of 2019 in
C.S.No.33 of 2019.
O.S.A Nos.284 & 285 of 2019: Appeals filed under Order XXXVI Rule
9 of the O.S. Rules r/w clause 15 of the amended Letters Patent 1865
against the order dated 05.07.2019 in Application No.2230 of 2019 in
O.A.No.34 of 2019 in C.S.No.33 of 2019.
For Appellant in O.S.A No.
264/2019 & Respondents : Mr.P. Giridharan
in OSA Nos.284 & 285 of
2019
For Respondents in OSA No. : Mr.Aashishjazn Lunza
264/2019 & Appellants in for M/s Surana & Surana
OSA Nos.284 & 285 of 2019
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Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019
M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd
COMMON JUDGMENT
(Judgment of the Court was delivered by the Hon'ble Acting Chief Justice) These Cross Appeals are disposed of by a Common Judgment.
2. The learned Single Judge by Order dated 05.07.2019 vacated the interim injunction granted in favour of the applicant/plaintiff viz., Hatsun Agro Product Ltd, who filed a suit against the respondents viz., M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and M/s Patanjali Ayurved Limited for the alleged infringement and passing off its products as that of the Plaintiff by using the offending trademark “AAROGYA” which are similar, deceptively similar and identical to the plaintiff's trademark “ AROKYA” or by using any other trademark which is similar, deceptively similar or identical to that of the plaintiff's trademark “AROKYA”.
page 4 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd
3. Initially, interim injunction was granted by the learned Single Judge in O.A.Nos.33 and 34 of 2019 dated 28.02.2019 However, by the impugned Order dated 05.07.2019, the learned Single Judge has vacated the interim injunction with the following observations:
“16. Legal obligation of one party to a victim as a results of a civil wrong or injury requires some form of remedy from a court system. A tort liability arises because of a combination of directly violating a person's rights and the transgression of a public obligation causing damage or a private wrong doing. Evidence must be evaluated in a court hearing to identify who the tort feasor / liable party is in the case.
17. It is relevant to point out that there is no interconnectivity between the products sold by the Plaintiff and page 5 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd the Defendants and the classes of registration are also different, as the Plaintiff's trademark was registered under Class 29, whereas the products of the Applicants/Defendants was under Class 30. The Plaintiff's Trademark “Arokya” was familiar amongst general public in connection with milk and milk products only, whereas the Applicants/Defendants involve in preparation of biscuit related items. In this regard, I find much force in the contention raised by the learned counsel for the Applicants/Defendants that the mark has to be viewed as a whole and together and cannot be looked into in a divided form and in an isolated manner.
18. It is seen that the Applicants/Defendants are carrying on its business under the Trademark “Patanjali Aarogya” for nearly three page 6 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd years and the Plaintiff, having kept quiet all these years, cannot attempt to stall the business of the Applicants/Defendants on one fine morning, unless there is a specific finding in the suit after full fledged trial. Hence, this Court finds that there is no need for an interim order to be in operation and therefore, the interim injunction granted by this Court on 28.02.2019, which was later on ordered to be kept in abeyance for shorter period, is liable to be vacated.
4. While vacating the interim injunction, the learned Single Judge also dismissed the Application No.2920 of 2019, filed by the defendants to pass a Summary Judgment under Order XIIIA of the Code of Civil Procedure (as amended) with the following observations:
“ 21. A.No.2920 of 2019 filed to pass a summary judgments is page 7 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd dismissed, in view of the fact that the interim order granted by this Court is vacated and the entire issues, such as damages, jurisdiction, passing off, etc need to be decided after full-fledged trial by letting the respective parties to adduce both oral and documentary evidence.
22. It is made clear that the observations made herein above are only for the purpose of disposal of these Applications and it will have no bearing on the main suit to be decided.”
5. The learned counsel for the appellants/defendants drew the attention of this Court the amended Order XIII-A of the Civil Procedure Code as applicable to commercial disputes under the provisions of Commercial Courts Act, 2015, inserted in the Code of Civil Procedure Code with effect from 23.10.2015. The said provision page 8 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd is extracted here for ready reference:
“ORDER XIII-A SUMMARY JUDGEMENT
1. Scope of and classes of suits to which this Order applies:- (1) This Order sets out the procedure by which Court may decide a claim pertaining to any Commercial Dispute without recording oral evidence.
(2) For the purposes of this Order, the word “claim” shall include-
(a) part of a claim;
(b) any particular question on which the claim (whether in whole or in part) depends; or © a counter-claim, as the case may be.
(3) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, an application for summary page 9 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd judgment under this Order shall not be made in a suit in respect of any Commercial Dispute that is originally filed as a summary suit under Order XXXVII.
2. Stage for application for summary judgment:- An applicant may apply for summary judgment at any time after summons has been served on the defendant:
Provided that, no application for summary judgment may be made by such applicant after the Court has framed the issues in respect of the suit.
3. Grounds for summary judgment:- The Court may give a summary judgment against a plaintiff or defendant on a claim if it considers page 10 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd that-
(a) the plaintiff has no real
prospect of succeeding on the
claim or the defendant has no real prospect of successfully defending the claim, as the case may be; and
(b) there is no other compelling reason why the claim should not be disposed of before recording of oral evidence.
4. Procedure:- (1) An application for summary judgment to a Court shall, in addition to any other matters the applicant may deem relevant, include the matters set forth in clauses (a) to
(f) mentioned hereunder:-
(a) the application must contain a statement that it is an application for page 11 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd summary judgment made under this Order;
(b) the application must precisely disclose all material facts and identify the point of law, if any;
© in the event the applicant seeks to rely upon any documentary evidence, the applicant must,-
(i) include such documentary evidence in its application, and
(ii) identify the relevant content of such documentary evidence on which the applicant relies;
(d) the application must state the reason why there are no real prospects of succeeding on the claim or defending the claim, as the case may be;
page 12 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd
(e) the application must state what relief the applicant is seeking and briefly state the grounds for seeking such relief.
(2) Where a hearing for summary judgment is fixed, the respondent must be given at least thirty days' notice of:-
(a) the date fixed for the hearing; and
(b) the claim that is proposed to be decided by the Court at such hearing.
(3) The respondent may, within thirty days of the receipt of notice of application of summary judgment or notice of hearing (whichever is earlier), file a reply addressing the matters set forth in clauses (a) to (f) mentioned hereunder in addition to page 13 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd any other matters that the respondent may deem relevant:-
(a) the reply must precisely -
(i) disclose all material facts;
(ii)identify the point of law, if any; and
(iii)state the reasons why the relief sought by the applicant should not be granted;
(b) in the event the respondent seeks to rely upon any documentary evidence in its reply, the respondent must -
(i) include such documentary evidence in its reply; and
(ii) identify the relevant content of such documentary evidence on which the respondent relies;
page 14 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd © the reply must state the reason why there are real prospects of succeeding on the claim or defending the claim, as the case may be;
(d) the reply must concisely state the issues that should be framed for trial;
(e) the reply must identify what further evidence will be brought on record at trial that could not be brought on record at the stage of summary judgment; and
(f) the reply must state why, in light of the evidence or material on record if any, the Court should not proceed to summary judgment.
5. Evidence for hearing of summary judgment:-
page 15 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Order, if the respondent in an application for summary judgment wishes to rely on additional documentary evidence during the hearing, the respondent must:-
(a) file such documentary
evidence; and
(b) serve copies of such documentary evidence on every other party to the application at least fifteen days prior to the date of the hearing.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in this Order, if the applicant for summary judgment wishes to rely on documentary evidence in reply to the defendant's documentary evidence, the applicant must:-
(a) file such documentary evidence in page 16 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd reply; and
(b) serve a copy of such documentary evidence on the respondent at least five days prior to the date of the hearing.
(3) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, sub-rules (1) and (2) shall not require documentary evidence to be:-
(a) filed if such documentary evidence has already been filed; or
(b) served on a party on whom it has already been served.
6. Orders that may be made by Court:-
(1) On an application made under this Order, the Court may make such orders that it may deem fit in its discretion including the following:
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(a) judgment on the claim;
(b)conditional order in accordance with rule 7 mentioned hereunder;
© dismissing the application;
(d)dismissing part of the claim and a judgment on part of the claim that is not dismissed;
(e) striking out the pleadings (whether in whole or in part); or
(f) further directions to proceed for case management under Order XV-A.
7. Conditional Order:-
(1) Where it appears to the Court that it is possible that a claim or defence may succeed but it is improbable that it will do so, the page 18 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd Court may make a conditional order as set forth in rule 6(1)(b) above.
(2) Where the Court makes a conditional order, it may:-
(a) make it subject to all or any of the following conditions:-
(i) require a party to deposit a sum of money in the Court;
(ii) require a party to take a specified step in relation to the claim or defence, as the case may be;
(iii) require, a party, as the case may be, to give such security or provide such surety for restitution of costs as the Court deems fit and proper;
(iv) impose such other conditions, including providing security for page 19 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd restitution of losses that any party is likely to suffer during the pendency of the suit, as the Court may deem fit in its discretion; and
(b) specify the consequences of the failure to comply with the conditional order, including passing a judgment against the party that have not complied with the conditional order.
8. Power to impose costs:- The Court may make an order for payment of costs in an application for summary judgment in accordance with the provisions of sections 35 and 35A of the Code.”
6. The learned counsel for the defendants Mr.P. Giridharan, submits that the learned Single Judge has summarily rejected the application in Application No.2920/2019, filed by the defendants, to pass a Summary Judgment under Order XIIIA of the Code of Civil page 20 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd Procedure without any reason and since the said application filed by the defendants was filed before framing of issues and the full fledged trial of the said suit would defeat the very purpose of XIII-A of Commercial Courts Act, 2015 (4 of 2016) as inserted in the Code of Civil Procedure Code.
7. On the other hand, the learned counsel for the plaintiff/respondent Mr.Aashishjazn Lunza submits that the issues raised in the plaint deserves full fledged trial and rejection of the Application No.2920 of 2019, filed by the defendants, was justified.
He further submits that even vacating of the injunction granted earlier in favour of the plaintiff was not justified and therefore, he has also filed Cross Appeals viz., O.S.A. Nos.284 and 285 of 2019 before this Court.
8. Having regard to the above submissions and perusing the materials available on record, the learned Single Judge has given cogent reason for vacating the injunction and hence, we are page 21 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd not inclined to interfere with the order passed by the learned Single Judge in Application Nos.2230 and 2231 of 2019.
Therefore, O.S.A.Nos.284 and 285 of 2019 are dismissed.
9. But, we note that the rejection of the Application No.2920 of 2019, filed by the defendants, to pass a summary judgment, has been summarily rejected by the learned Single Judge without giving any conjoint reasons.
10. Certainly, a full fledged trial of a suit will consume a lot of time of the Court and therefore, unless there are cogent and strong reasons as envisaged under Order XIII-A of the Civil Procedure Code as applicable to commercial disputes under the provisions of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 (4 of 2016), inserted in the Code of Civil Procedure, the dismissal of the Application by the learned Single Judge in Application No.2920 of 2019, for summary judgment, is not sustainable.
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11. Since the learned Single Judge has not dealt with these aspects, we are inclined to allow the present appeal, filed by the defendants. Accordingly, O.S.A.No.264 of 2019 is allowed and we set aside the order passed by the learned Single Judge in Application No.2920 of 2019 and the matter is remitted back to the learned Single Judge to decide the Application No.2920 of 2019, filed by the defendants to pass a Summary Judgment once again as expeditiously as possible.
12. With the above directions, all the appeals are disposed of.
No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
(V.K., ACJ.) (C.S.N., J.)
05.11.2019
Speaking Order
Index : Yes
sr
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Common Judgment dt. 05.11.2019 in O.S.A.Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt Ltd and another vs Hatsun Agro Product Ltd The Hon'ble Acting Chief Justice and C.Saravanan, J.
sr To The Sub Assistant Registrar (Original Side), High Court, Madras O.S.A Nos.264, 284 and 285 of 2019 05.11.2019 page 24 of 24 http://www.judis.nic.in