Bombay HC restrains Bengaluru-based newspaper from using Indian Express Group founder’s name

The court was hearing an infringement suit filed by the The Indian Express P Ltd. It said Prashant Goenka was claiming to be late Ramnath Goenka’s grandson and passing off his newspaper as part of the Indian Express Group.

The group sought an order from the court restraining Prashant Goenka from using name and image of its founder in his Hindi newspaper which is circulated in Bengaluru.

Justice Gupte, after hearing brief arguments from both parties, noted that the plaintiff (the Indian Express P Ltd ) has prima facie made out a case for interim relief.

“The question before the court is should the defendant be allowed to trade with the name and image of Ramnath Goenka in view of the newspaper and to collect funds and other concerns,” the court said.

“Prima facie, at this stage, it seems the answer is negative. The plaintiff has clearly made a case for ad-interim injunction in suit for perpetual injunction,” it said.

The court directed the defendants to file affidavits responding to the suit and posted the matter for final hearing after four weeks. The Indian Express counsel Dinyar Madon argued that Prashant Goenka was seeking to ride on the reputationof the Express Group and its founder.

He informed the court that Prashant Goenka had in fact organised an awards ceremony — Ramnath Goenka Peace Awards and Ramnath Goenka Journalism Awards — on the same lines as that of the Indian Express Excellence in Journalism Awards.

Prashant Goenka’s advocates contended that their client had applied for the awards’ title and hence it did not amount to infringement. According to Prashant Goenka’s lawyers, their client is a grandson of Ramnath Goenka’s brother.

They claimed Prashant Goenka admires Ramnath Goenka, a doyen of Indian journalism, since his childhood and has been working with an intent to maintain his reputation.

Justice Gupte said it is not just a question of use of name by relatives, but of incorrect use of Ramnath Goenka’s name. According to the plaintiff, Prashant Goenka’s newspaper is not part of the 87-year-old Indian Express Group