Court mandates a three-week timeline for State authorities to address the petitioner's representation over trademark disputes in educational sector.
In a significant directive, the Telangana High Court has instructed state authorities to address the grievances of petitioner V. Sree Pathi Reddy, who claims infringement of his registered trademark "SPR" by a school operating under the name "SPR High School". The court's order comes in response to a writ petition filed by Reddy, seeking the cancellation of permissions granted to the school that allegedly violates his intellectual property rights.
The petition, heard by Justice Smt. Juvvadi Sridevi, centers around the alleged unauthorized use of the trademark "SPR" by Respondent No.7, who established a school under the contested name. Reddy, an educationalist and owner of the trademark "SPR School of Excellence", argued that the initials "SPR" are integral to his identity and brand, protected by trademark registration.
The legal tussle began when Reddy found that Respondent No.7 was using the "SPR" name for their educational institution. This prompted him to file a suit for trademark infringement at the Court of the Special Judge for Trial and Disposal of Commercial Disputes in Ranga Reddy District. An interim injunction was granted, restraining the respondent from using the name, but was allegedly flouted when the State's School Education Department permitted the establishment of the school under the same name.
Despite the injunction, the government issued several memos and proceedings between June and July 2025, allowing the continuation and recognition of "SPR High School" for a decade. The petitioner repeatedly sought the cancellation of these permissions through official representations, the latest being on March 7, 2026, which went unheeded, leading to the current writ petition.
The court, while disposing of the petition, refrained from adjudicating on the merits of the trademark claim but emphasized the need for a fair consideration of Reddy's representation. It directed the respondent authorities, including the Principal Secretary of the School Education Department, to conduct a thorough examination of the petitioner's grievances in line with existing court orders and legal provisions, ensuring both parties are heard.
This order underscores the judiciary's role in safeguarding intellectual property rights within the educational sector, mandating a compliance period of three weeks from the receipt of the court's order. The decision is seen as a move to balance the rights of trademark holders against educational development interests, urging authorities to consider the implications of such disputes on brand integrity and consumer perception.
The court's directive highlights the critical role of due process and adherence to legal frameworks in resolving intellectual property disputes, especially in fields like education where brand identity can significantly influence public trust and institutional reputation.
Bottom line:-
Intellectual Property - Trademark infringement - Authorities directed to consider representation of petitioner seeking cancellation of permission granted to a school using the name "SPR High School" allegedly infringing registered trademarks of petitioner.
Statutory provision(s): Article 226 of the Constitution of India, Trademark Infringement Law, Code of Civil Procedure (Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2).
V. Sree Pathi Reddy v. State of Telangana, (Telangana) : Law Finder Doc id # 2917911
