CROCS VS ACTION SHOES PVT LTD -APPEAL UNDER SECTION 10 OF DELHI HIGH COURT ACT DISMISSED

$~37-46
*	IN  THE  HIGH  COURT  OF  DELHI		AT  NEW  DELHI
+		FAO (OS) 305/2017, CM APPL.44188-44190/2017
	CROCS INC USA		..... Appellant
		versus
	ACTION SHOES PVT LTD & ANR		..... Respondents

FAO (OS) 306/2017, CM APPL.44191-44193/2017

CROCS INC USA		..... Appellant
	versus
BATA INDIA LTD		..... Respondent
	FAO (OS) (COMM) 206/2017, CM APPL.44164-44166/2017
CROCS INC USA		..... Appellant
	versus
LIBERTY SHOES LTD & ANR		..... Respondents
	FAO (OS) (COMM) 207/2017, CM APPL.44167-44169
CROCS INC USA		..... Appellant
	versus
LIBERTY SHOES LTD & ORS		..... Respondents
	FAO (OS) (COMM) 208/2017, CM APPL.44170-44172/2017
CROCS INC USA		..... Appellant
	versus
RELAXO FOOTWEAR LTD		..... Respondent
	FAO (OS) (COMM) 209/2017, CM APPL.44173-44175/2017
CROCS INC USA		..... Appellant
	versus
BATA INDIA LTD		..... Respondent
	FAO (OS) (COMM) 210/2017, CM APPL.44176-44178/2017
CROCS INC USA		..... Appellant
	versus
RELAXO FOOTWEAR LTD		..... Respondent

FAO (OS) 305/2017 & connected matters                                                                                                       Page 1

FAO (OS) (COMM) 211/2017, CM APPL.44179-44181/2017

	CROCS INC USA				..... Appellant
			versus
	BIOWORLD MERCHANDISING INDIA LTD & ANR Respondents
		FAO (OS) (COMM) 212/2017, CM APPL.44182-44184/2017
	CROCS INC USA				..... Appellant
			versus
	BIOWORLD MERCHANDISING INDIA LTD & ANR Respondents
		FAO (OS) (COMM) 213/2017, CM APPL.44185-44187/2017
	CROCS INC USA				..... Appellant
			versus
	ACTION SHOES PVT LTD & ORS				..... Respondents
	Appearance: Mr. Ravinder Sethi, Sr. Advocate with Mr. S.K. Bansal,
	Mr. Ajay Amitabh Suman, Mr. Pankaj Kumar and Mr. Kapil Kumar
	Giri, Advocates for appellants, in all matters.
	Mr. Neeraj Grover with Ms. Kanika Bajaj and Mr. Mehak Nakara,
	Advocates for respondents/Bata in Item-38&42.
	Mr. Jayant Mehta with Mr. Kapil Wadhwa, Ms. Devyani Nath and
	Mr. Shubhankar, Advocates for respondents in Items-39&40.
	Mr. Kapil Wadhwa and Ms. Devyani Nath, Advocates for respondents
	in Items-37&46.
	Mr. Anil  Dutt  with Ms.  Vindhya  S.  Mani,  Advocates  for  R-1  in
	Items-44&45.
	Mr.  M.K.  Miglani  with  Mr.  Gaurav  Miglani,				Advocates  for
	respondents in Items-41&43.
	CORAM:
	HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S. RAVINDRA BHAT
	HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV SACHDEVA
			O R D E R
%	05.12.2017

This Court is of the opinion that the orders in this case have not determined the respective rights and the liabilities of the parties. In

FAO (OS) 305/2017 & connected matters                                                                                                       Page 2

these circumstances, learned counsel seeks liberty to withdraw these appeals and approach the Court as and when any order on the merits of the applications under Order-XXXIX Rule-1&2 and Order-XXXIX Rule-4, CPC are made. It goes without saying that all rights and contentions of the parties to urge the submissions that are available in law are kept open. The appeals are dismissed as withdrawn, along with all the pending applications.

A copy of this order be given under the signatures of Court Master to the parties.

S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J

SANJEEV SACHDEVA, J

DECEMBER 05, 2017

/vikas/

FAO (OS) 305/2017 & connected matters                                                                                                       Page 3

THE ORDER OF THE SINGLE JUDGE, ASSAILED.

$~11 to 20

*                    IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+                   CS (COMM) 772/2016 and I.A. Nos. 7905/2016, 418/2017

M/S CROCS INC.USA

Through:

..... Plaintiff

Mr.  Akhil  Sibal,  Sr.  Advocate  with

Mr. S.K. Bansal, Mr. Pankaj Kumar,

Mr.  Kapil  Giri  and  Mr.  Vinay  Kr.

Shukla, Advocates.

versus

M/S LIBERTY SHOES LTD

Through:

..... Defendant

Mr.    Jayant        Mehta,       Mr.        Kapil

Wadhwa,  Ms.   Devyani  Nath,     Mr.

Shubhankar and Mr. Rahul Kukreja,

Advocates for D-1.

+

CS(COMM) 905/2016 and I.A. No. 8606/2016

M/S CROCS INC USA

Through:

..... Plaintiff

Mr.  Akhil  Sibal,  Sr.  Advocate  with

Mr. S.K. Bansal, Mr. Pankaj Kumar,

Mr.  Kapil  Giri  and  Mr.  Vinay  Kr.

Shukla, Advocates.

versus

M/S ACTION SHOES PVT LTD & ANR                     ..... Defendants

Through:        Mr. Kapil Wadhwa and Ms. Devyani

Nath, Advocates.

+                   CS(COMM) 906/2016 and I.A. No. 8609/2016

M/S CROCS INC USA                                                                          ..... Plaintiff

Through:        Mr.  Akhil  Sibal,  Sr.  Advocate  with Mr. S.K. Bansal, Mr. Pankaj Kumar,

Mr.  Kapil  Giri  and  Mr.  Vinay  Kr.

Shukla, Advocates.

versus

M/S BIOWORLD MERCHANDISING INDIA LIMITED

..... Defendant

Through:        Mr.  Anil  Dutt  and  Ms.  Vindhya  S.

Mani, Advocates.

Mr.  Vijay  Singh  and  Mr.   Praveen

Sehrawat, Advocates for R-2.

+                   CS(COMM) 1415/2016 and I.A. No. 12767/2016

M/S CROCS INC. USA                                                                        ..... Plaintiff

Through:        Mr. Akhil Sibal, Sr. Advocate with Mr. S.K. Bansal, Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Mr. Kapil Giri and Mr. Vinay Kr. Shukla, Advocates.

versus

M/S LIBERTY SHOES LTD & OTHERS ..... Defendants Through: Mr. Jayant Mehta, Mr. Kapil

Wadhwa,  Ms.   Devyani  Nath,     Mr.

Shubhankar and Mr. Rahul Kukreja,

Advocates for D-1.

+                   CS(COMM) 569/2017 and I.A. No. 6809/2015, 11728/2017

CROCS INC USA

Through:

..... Plaintiff

Mr.  Akhil  Sibal,  Sr.  Advocate  with

Mr. S.K. Bansal, Mr. Pankaj Kumar,

Mr.  Kapil  Giri  and  Mr.  Vinay  Kr.

Shukla, Advocates.

versus

BATA INDIA LTD & ORS                                                          ..... Defendants

Through:        Mr.  Neeraj  Grover and  Ms.  Kanika

Bajaj, Advocates.

+                   CS(COMM) 570/2017 and I.A. No. 11731/2017

M/S CROCS INC USA                                                                        ..... Plaintiff

Through:        Mr. Akhil Sibal, Sr. Advocate with Mr. S.K. Bansal, Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Mr. Kapil Giri and Mr. Vinay Kr.

Shukla, Advocates.

versus

M/S RELAXO FOOTWEAR LTD

..... Defendant

Through:        Mr.  M.K.  Miglani  and  Mr.  Gaurav

Miglani, Advocates.

+                   CS(COMM) 571/2017 and I.A. No. 6811/2015, 11729/2017

CROCS INC USA

Through:

..... Plaintiff

Mr.  Akhil  Sibal,  Sr.  Advocate  with

Mr. S.K. Bansal, Mr. Pankaj Kumar,

Mr.  Kapil  Giri  and  Mr.  Vinay  Kr.

Shukla, Advocates.

versus

RELAXO FOOTWEAR LTD

Through:

..... Defendant

Mr.  M.K.  Miglani  and  Mr.  Gaurav

Miglani, Advocates.

+                   CS(COMM) 780/2017 and I.A. No. 9971/2015, 13312/2017

CROCS INC.USA

Through:

..... Plaintiff

Mr.  Akhil  Sibal,  Sr.  Advocate  with

Mr. S.K. Bansal, Mr. Pankaj Kumar,

Mr.  Kapil  Giri  and  Mr.  Vinay  Kr.

Shukla, Advocates.

versus

BIOWORLD MERCHANDISING INDIA LTD. & ORS

..... Defendants

Through:        Mr.  Anil  Dutt  and  Ms.  Vindhya  S.

Mani, Advocates.

+                   CS(OS) 2850/2014 and I.A. Nos. 19747/2014, 24965/2014, 350/2016 & 11730/2017

CROCS INC USA                                                                                               ..... Plaintiff

Through:        Mr. Akhil Sibal, Sr. Advocate with Mr. S.K. Bansal, Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Mr. Kapil Giri and Mr. Vinay Kr.

Shukla, Advocates.

versus

M/S BATA INDIA LTD AND ORS

..... Defendants

Through:        Mr.  Neeraj  Grover and  Ms.  Kanika

Bajaj, Advocates.

+

CS(OS) 64/2016

M/S CROES INC USA

Through:

..... Plaintiff

Mr.  Akhil  Sibal,  Sr.  Advocate  with

Mr. S.K. Bansal, Mr. Pankaj Kumar,

Mr.  Kapil  Giri  and  Mr.  Vinay  Kr.

Shukla, Advocates.

versus

M/S ACTION SHOES PVT LTD AND ORS                ..... Defendants

Through:        Mr. Kapil Wadhwa and Ms. Devyani

Nath, Advocates.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VALMIKI J. MEHTA

O R D E R

%                                         24.11.2017

1.                Counsels for the defendants have been heard with respect to injunction application filed by the plaintiff and the application under Order 39 Rule 4 CPC filed by the defendants.

2.                Counsels for the defendants want to address the remaining arguments by referring to books and publications of existence of sandals in India for a very long period of time running into possibly centuries, in view of Section 57 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

3.                List on 6^th December, 2017 for the remaining arguments of the defendants as also arguments of the plaintiff. In anticipation of the judgment defendants are directed by the next date of hearing to file affidavits of their authorised persons as to the costs already incurred by them in these legal proceedings, whether in the form of lawyers fees or cost of litigation or details as to losses on account of ex-parte

injunction order operating against the defendants.

VALMIKI J. MEHTA, J

NOVEMBER 24, 2017

rb

LABORATOIRE GARNIER & CIE VS MEHRA FABRICS AND ORS

$~8

*                    IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+                   CS(OS) 1988/2010

	LABORATOIRE GARNIER & CIE			..... Plaintiff
		Through:	Mr. Ajay Amitabh Suman, Mr.Kapil
		Kumar Giri, Mr.Pankaj Kumar, Advocates
	versus
	MEHRA FABRICS AND ORS.			..... Defendants
		Through:	None
	CORAM:
	HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV SAHAI ENDLAW
		O R D E R
%	04.12.2017

1.                 The plaintiff M/s Laboratoire Garnier & CIE has instituted this Suit against (a) M/s Mehra Fabrics, Ludhiana, (b) M/s Shakti Enterprises, Ludhiana, (c) Chief Commissioner of Customs, New Delhi; and, (d) Chief Commissioner of Customs, Kolkata, for permanent injunction restraining

infringement of trademark / trade name ‘Garnier’ of the plaintiff, infringement of copyright, passing off and for ancillary reliefs.

2.                 The Suit was entertained and vide ex parte ad interim order dated 27^th

September, 2010, the defendants No.1 and 2, namely, M/s Mehra Fabrics and M/s Shakti Enterprises restrained from offering for sale any product or goods containing ‘Garnier’ mark or using any other mark closely similar to ‘Garnier’ mark was issued. It was further recorded in the said order that since the defendants No.3 and 4, namely, Chief Commissioner of Customs, New Delhi and Chief Commissioner of Customs, Kolkata had already suspended the clearance of goods, no direction of the nature sought was

CS(OS) 1988/2010                                                                                                                                    Page 1 of 4

required to be passed against them, save for recording that the said defendants would proceed in accordance with law.

3.                 The counsel for the defendants No.1 and 2 appeared before this Court on 14^th January, 2011 and disputed that the consignment of goods bearing

the mark ‘Garnier’ was of the defendants No.1 and 2.

4.                 Neither did the defendants No.1 and 2 file any written statement nor did they appear thereafter. The defendants 1&2 were vide order dated 8^th

July, 2011, proceeded against ex parte. The defendants No.3 and 4 also made a statement on 8^th July, 2011 that they did not wish to file any written statement and did not dispute the claim of the plaintiff in the Suit.

5.                 The Suit was accordingly listed for ex parte evidence of the plaintiff.

6.                 The plaintiff has led ex parte evidence of its constituted attorney Ms.Surbhi Bansal.

7.                 Vide order dated 5^th February, 2016, the plaintiff was directed to lead further evidence and the plaintiff has thereafter again examined Ms.Surbhi Bansal.

8.                 The counsel for the plaintiff has been heard.

9.                 The plaintiff, on the basis of its pleadings and the evidence led, has made out a case for grant of relief of permanent injunction as claimed in prayer paragraphs 41(a)(i) to (iv) of the amended plaint dated 22^nd

November, 2014. The counsel for the plaintiff, on being asked to show the evidence led to prove that the consignment of imported goods bearing infringing marks were of the defendants No.1 and 2, has drawn attention to Ex.PW1/15 at Pg.107-108 of Part III file being the letter dated 26^th July, 2010 of the office of Commissioner of Customs to the Advocate for the

CS(OS) 1988/2010                                                                                                                                    Page 2 of 4

plaintiff disclosing the seized goods to be of the defendants No.1 and 2. It is contended that though the value of the said goods is shown as of Rs.25,79,040/- only, but the goods were undervalued and the value was much more.

10.            I have next enquired from the counsel for the plaintiff the constitution of M/s Mehra Fabrics and M/s Shakti Enterprises, inasmuch as these are assumed names and unless it is known whose assumed names these are, no effective decree can be passed.

11.            The counsel for the plaintiff states that since the defendants No.1 and

2   did not file written statement and did not appear, the said material is not before this Court.

12.            Without the plaintiff proving whose assumed name Mehra Fabrics and Shakti Enterprises are and what is the connection between them inasmuch as the two bear different addresses, no effective executable decree for recovery of damages can be passed against assumed names. However, the counsel for the plaintiff states that he will execute the decree against the assumed names at the addresses given and if there is nobody with the assumed name, the plaintiff will not execute the decree. The counsel for the plaintiff now states that he did not want to make this statement.

13.            Without the said statement, a decree against an assumed name, without knowing the identity of the assumed name, cannot be passed and the enquiry as to who is the real person behind the assumed name cannot be made at the stage of execution inasmuch as the same is beyond the scope of execution. The Court is not required to pass a vague inexecutable decree which cannot be enforced.

CS(OS) 1988/2010                                                                                                                                    Page 3 of 4

14.            For this reason, the plaintiff, is not found entitled to a decree for damages or for costs inasmuch as it is not known from whom the same will be recovered.

15.            A decree is accordingly passed in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendants No.1 and 2 in terms of prayer paragraphs 41(a)(i) to (iv) of the amended plaint dated 22^nd November, 2014, leaving the parties to bear their own costs.

16.            Decree sheet be drawn up.

RAJIV SAHAI ENDLAW, J

DECEMBER 04, 2017

Pk..

CS(OS) 1988/2010                                                                                                                                    Page 4 of 4