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* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI BEFORE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV # CNR No. DLHC010463472024 + CS(COMM) 641/2024, I.A. 35178/2024 & I.A. 1561/2025 MR. SUNIT SHAH PROPRIETOR OF M/S. SHAH NAMKEEN

83, INDRA PARK, NEAR CHANDER NAGAR, DELHI-110051 .....Plaintiff (Through: Mr. Umesh Mishra with Mr. Mr. Divyanshu Rai, Advocates.)

versus M/S. JABSONS FOODS PVT. LTD.

PLOT NO. A-2, A’2, A’1, A’1, D-3, D-4 & D-5, BHOLAV UDYOG, (GUJARAT) .....Defendant (Through: Mr. Sandeep Ranjan with Ms. Bhuvi Mishra & Mr.

Navin Kumar, Advocates.)

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% Reserved on: 14.10.2026 Pronounced on: 28.10.2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JUDGMENT

INDEX I. FACTS OF THE CASE .......................................................................... 2 II. SUBMISSIONS ON BEHALF OF THE PLAINTIFF ......................... 6 III. SUBMISSIONS ON BEHALF OF THE DEFENDANT .................... 8 IV. ANALYSIS ........................................................................................ 11 a. The objection of suppression ............................................................ 11 b. The rights of the plaintiff .................................................................. 12 c. The condition of disclaimer .............................................................. 14 d. Whether HOT MIX is a coined expression or a descriptive one? .... 16 e. The plea of use of HOT MIX by third parties ................................... 23 f. Comparison of the rival marks and infringement ............................. 25 g. Passing off and the adoption of the impugned mark ........................ 31 h. Balance of convenience and irreparable injury ............................... 33 V. CONCLUSION ................................................................................... 33 I.A. 35178/2024 (under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2 of CPC) & I.A.

1561/2025 (under Order XXXIX Rule 4 of CPC)

I. FACTS OF THE CASE By way of I.A. 35178/2024, filed under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and

2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (“CPC”), plaintiff seeks an interim injunction restraining the defendant from using the mark HOT MIX (“impugned mark”), which, according to plaintiff, is identical with the essential feature of, and deceptively similar to, its registered trade mark SHAH HOT MIX (LABEL). By way of I.A. 1561/2025, filed under Order XXXIX Rule 4 of CPC, the defendant seeks vacation of the ex parte ad interim injunction granted in favour of the plaintiff vide order dated 02.08.2024. Since both the applications arise out of the same set of facts, hence are being decided by this common judgment.

2. The case set up in the plaint, in brief, is that the plaintiff is the sole proprietor of M/s Shah Namkeen, and is engaged in the business of manufacturing and marketing namkeen, puffs, biscuits, cakes, spices, bread and confectionery goods falling in Class 30. Plaintiff claims to have commenced the said business in Delhi in the year 1977, and to have adopted, in that very year, the trade marks/labels SHAH, SHAH NAMKEEN and SHAH HOT MIX (LABEL), along with the artistic work associated therewith.

3. On 01.07.1982, the plaintiff and his brother constituted a partnership firm under the name M/s Shah Namkeen, which was reduced into writing on 11.03.1983. The partners applied for registration of the trade mark SHAH in Class 30 on 02.02.1984 (application No. 417009), claiming user since 01.04.1977, and the same was registered vide Certificate No. 164666 dated 31.08.1989. On 08.06.1995, the partnership was dissolved, and the plaintiff continued the business as its sole proprietor.

4. The plaintiff is also the registered proprietor of the label mark SHAH HOT MIX (LABEL), registered under No. 2309592 in Class 30, in respect of namkeen and other goods, on an application filed on 03.04.2012, claiming user since 01.04.1977