Delhi High Court Decrees Settlement, Orders Destruction of Infringing Goods
In a significant resolution to a trademark infringement case, the Delhi High Court has decreed a settlement between Reliance Industries Limited and Pawan Kumar Gupta, the proprietor of Jioo Organics, under Order XXIII Rule 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. The judgment, delivered by Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, marks the end of the legal battle concerning the unauthorized use of trademarks deceptively similar to Reliance's well-known brands 'RELIANCE' and 'JIO'.
The case, CS(COMM) 675 of 2025, was initiated by Reliance Industries Limited against multiple defendants, including Pawan Kumar Gupta, for infringing upon its trademark rights. In the settlement, Defendant No. 16, Pawan Kumar Gupta, has agreed to cease all use of the contested trademarks and has undertaken numerous corrective actions to comply with the legal requirements set forth by Reliance Industries.
Key terms of the settlement include an agreement by Pawan Kumar Gupta to refrain from using any trademarks, trade names, or domain names that are identical or deceptively similar to Reliance's trademarks, including 'RELIANCE' and 'JIO'. Gupta further committed to changing his trading name from 'Jioo Organics' to a name compliant with the settlement terms and has agreed to destroy all products, promotional materials, and online content bearing the impugned trademarks.
The court order mandates the destruction of all infringing goods and materials within two weeks, with a compliance affidavit to be filed by Defendant No. 16 within one week of completing the destruction. Additionally, Gupta agreed to pay a sum of Rs. 51,000 as a donation to Wildlife SOS, acknowledging his wrongdoing.
Justice Gedela found the terms of the settlement lawful and within the framework of Order XXIII Rule 3 of CPC, 1908, allowing for a decree to be drawn up and the suit to be disposed of concerning Defendant No. 16. The court emphasized that both parties are bound by the settlement's terms, ensuring that Reliance's trademark rights are protected and respected.
Reliance's legal representatives, Mr. Chirag Ahluwalia and Mr. Mohit Maru, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, highlighting the importance of upholding intellectual property rights in protecting brand integrity. Defendant No. 16, represented by Mr. Abhirath A. Parashar, alongside Ms. Priya Goyal and Ms. Aakriti Gupta for other defendants, acknowledged the settlement as a constructive resolution to the dispute.
The case is set to return to the Joint Registrar and the Court on September 14 and September 24, 2026, respectively, for further proceedings concerning other defendants.
Bottom line:-
Settlement between parties under Order XXIII Rule 3 of CPC, 1908 - Terms of settlement recorded in writing, found lawful by the Court - Decree passed in terms of settlement.
Statutory provision(s): Order XXIII Rule 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
Reliance Industries Limited v. Pawan Kumar Gupta, (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc id # 2893949
