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M/S.Raymond Pharmaceuticals ... vs Union Of India
2022 Latest Caselaw 17982 Mad

Citation : 2022 Latest Caselaw 17982 Mad
Judgement Date : 2 December, 2022

Madras High Court
M/S.Raymond Pharmaceuticals ... vs Union Of India on 2 December, 2022
                                                                            W.P.No.28593 of 2012

                                  IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

                                               DATED: 02.12.2022

                                                    CORAM:

                             THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR

                                              W.P.No.28593 of 2012
                                            and M.P.Nos.1 & 2 of 2012


                  M/s.Raymond Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd.,
                  4/19, 2nd Street, Dr.Radhakrishnan Nagar,
                  Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai - 600 041,
                  Represented by its Director,
                  Mrs.Sunitha Khanna                                    .. Petitioner

                                                       Vs.

                  1. Union of India,
                     Represented by its Secretary to Government,
                     Ministry of Corporate Affairs,
                     Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi - 110 011.

                  2. The Regional Director,
                     Ministry of Corporate Affairs,
                     Southern Region, Haddows Road,
                     Shastri Bhawan, Chennai - 600 006.

                  3. M/s.Raymond Limited,
                     Regd.Office Plot No.156/H No.2,
                     Village Zadgaon, Ratnagiri,
                     Maharashtra - 451 612 and
                     H.O. New Hind House Narottam,
                     Morarji Marg, Ballard Estate,
                     Mumbai - 400 001.                                  .. Respondents


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                                                                                        W.P.No.28593 of 2012


                  Prayer : Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of
                  India seeking a Writ of Certiorari to call for the records connected with the
                  impugned order dated 17.07.2022 in REF.No.4/22/M-8/2010, passed by the
                  2nd respondent herein and quash the same as not sustainable in law.


                                  For Petitioner              : Mr.N.Viswanathan

                                  For Respondents 1 & 2 : No appearance

                                  For Respondent 3            : Mr.T.K.Bhaskar
                                                            -----

                                                         ORDER

This writ petition has been filed challenging the order of the second

respondent dated 17.07.2012, passed under Section 22 of the Companies Act,

1956 directing the petitioner to change the name of its registered company

within a period of three months from the date of the said order.

2. The brief facts leading to the filing of the writ petition is as follows:

(i) The petitioner is a Company incorporated under the Companies Act,

1956 as early as on 31.03.1983, in Karnataka and later shifted the registered

office to Chennai, Tamilnadu in the year 1988.

(ii) The petitioner company is primarily engaged in manufacturing and

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

trading of pharmaceutical products/drugs under various trade names and also

acting as contract manufacturer of drugs and formulations for the last 29 years

having its manufacturing unit located at B-21, SIDCO Pharmaceutical

Complex Athur Tiporrur near Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu. The

petitioner company has been marketing its goods under a brand name/trade

name duly registered with the appropriate authority under the Trade Marks

Act. The trade mark registration has been obtained by the company for its

product since 2003.

(iii) The petitioner company was named as Raymond Pharmaceutical

Private Limited, on the understanding that it is a common Christian name and

as per the Reader's Digest Great Encyclopedic Dictionary the word meant

"mighty protection". Initially the representative of the petitioner company

addressed a communication dated 23.07.82 to the Registrar of Company,

Karnataka suggesting three words to be prefixed namely "Raymond"

"Osmond" and "Esmond" all being Christian name having an identical

meaning namely "Mighty name" or "God's protection". They received a reply

dated 19.08.82 from the said authority informing the petitioner that there does

not appear to be any objection to the registration of the company by the name

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

"Raymond", and accordingly the petitioner company filed necessary

application under the Companies Act, and got it registered on 21.03.1983 with

the name "Raymond Pharmaceutical Private Limited".

(iv) The petitioner ever since was carrying on its business

uninterruptedly till they received a notice dated 03.10.2005 from the 3rd

respondent and that too after 23 years of its existence. Many of their products

being periodically advertised in various periodicals and journals. The use of

the word "Raymond" by the petitioner company as pan of its corporate name

trading style without the express authority/knowledge on its letterheads,

invoices, receipts other stationeries, various medical preparations,

advertisements at a merchant and/or manufacturer of such products, thereby

creating an impression that these products are somehow connected or owned

or licensed by the 3rd respondent herein and that in or about September 2005

it has also been brought to the knowledge of the said company that the

Registrar of Trade Mark had published in the Trade Mark Journal No:1327

Suppl (4), dated 24.01.2005 and to desist from using the word "Raymond" by

the petitioner company.

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

(v) Perusal of the said notice clearly revealed that the 3rd respondent

had on its own had knowledge of the fact of the petitioner company using the

name "Raymond" as its corporate name through the product manufactured and

traded by it as well as the advertisement published by it in the

periodicals/journals but also was informed of the publication of an

advertisement made in the journal published in January 2005 by the Trade

Mark authorities of the fact of the petitioner filing an application seeking the

registration of a trade mark, which it claimed was brought to its knowledge in

September 2005.

(vi) The 3rd respondent herein consequent to the reply sent by the

petitioner aforementioned filed original suit dated 26.12.2005 before the

Bombay High Court in O.S.No.436/2006 against the petitioner company

seeking a perpetual order of injunction from any manner manufacturing,

marketing, selling, offering for sale, supplying, advertising or using in any

manner or otherwise dealing with in relation to the word/mark "Raymond" or

any other mark identical with or deceptively similar to the registered trade

mark and copyright held by it. The petitioner was not sure of the date of

acquiring the said knowledge and that there is every possibility of its getting

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

the said knowledge even on a date prior to 12.09.2005.

(vii) The Bombay High Court in the above suit passed orders on

15.02.2007 dismissing the said notice of motion holding the same to be devoid

of any merits. The 3rd respondent filed an appeal against the said order, which

also came to be dismissed. Thereafter the 3rd respondent moved a petition for

special leave to Appeal before the Hon'ble Supreme Court which also after

hearing the counsels for the 3rd respondent herein refused to interfere with the

judgment of the Bombay High Court.

(viii) The 3rd respondent after being unsuccessful in its attempt to resist

the petitioner company from using the word "Raymond" before the Bombay

High Court and the Hon'ble Supreme Court, belatedly filed an application on

13.09.2010 under Sections 20 & 22 of the Companies Act before the 2

respondent herein seeking rectification of the name of the petitioner company

so as to remove the word "Raymond" there from.

(ix) In the said application, the 3rd respondent after adverting to the

various facts narrated above claimed for the first time that it came in

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

knowledge of the fact that the Petitioner company was using the word

"Raymond" in its corporate through an email dated 12.09.2005 and claimed to

be received on 13.09.2005 and accordingly contended that it has fulfilled the

conditions of limitation imposed under Section 22 of the Companies Act by

filing application on the last date.

(x) The petitioner sent its reply on 06.01.2011 to the 2nd respondent

opposing the application moved by the 3rd respondent. The 2nd respondent

without considering any of the factual and legal submissions made by the

petitioner and without even verifying the correctness of the claim made by the

3rd respondent, passed the impugned order dated 17.07.2012 directing the

petitioner to change its name within three months from the date of the order as

per the procedure laid down under the Companies Act. The impugned order

passed by the 2nd respondent has put the petitioner company to a

disadvantageous potion since it was deprived of the good will earned for over

30 years in the pharmaceutical industry apart from causing severe and

irreparable loss to it. Hence, challenging the same the petitioner has filed this

writ petition.

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3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that

the order of the second respondent is not maintainable in the eye of law. The

3rd respondent has in fact filed a suit for infringement before the Bombay

High Court and sought an injunction on the ground of infringement of Trade

Mark "Raymond". A learned Single Judge of the Bombay High Court has also

held that the use of the mark "Raymond" by the petitioner herein was not

detrimental to the 3rd respondent's rights in the name/mark "Raymond" and

thus the 3rd respondent's contentions have been totally ignored. Aggrieved

over the same, the 3rd respondent filed an appeal and the Division Bench of

the Bombay High Court has dismissed the said appeal and upheld the order of

the learned Single Judge. Thereafter a Special Leave Petition has been

preferred by the 3rd respondent before the Hon'ble Apex Court and the same

was also dismissed.

4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner further submitted

that in the same subject matter reiterating similar facts an application has been

filed under the Companies Act for rectification, which has been considered by

the second respondent. The second respondent has not recorded any finding

that the name of the petitioner company is identical or too merely resembles

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

the trademark owned by the 3rd respondent, however passed the impugned

order dated 17.07.2012, against the petitioner. As the petitioner company is

only a private limited company and do not attract any investment from the

general public, to hold that the name "Raymond" as a prefix to the petitioner's

company name result in misleading the general public.

5. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner further submitted

that the second respondent ought to have held that the provisions contained in

Section 22 of the Companies Act, cannot be extended beyond the right

available to them in terms of Section 29(5) of the Trade Marks Act viz., the

right on the goods and services for which the trade mark has been registered in

their name.

6. It is further contended by the learned counsel appearing for the

petitioner that proviso contained in Section 22(1) read with Sub Section ii(b)

of the Companies Act only provided a maximum of 12 months of a company's

first registration or from the date of commencement of the Act whichever is

later, the period of 5 years provided under the proviso cannot be interpreted so

as to direct any company to change its name even after 29 years of its

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

existence holding the same name, as it would otherwise lead to any person

claiming knowledge within short span of time to extinguish the vested right

available to such companies.

7. The learned counsel for the petitioner further submitted that the

proviso to Section 22 of the Companies Act having only spoken about the date

of notice of the registration of the company and not knowledge of the

existence of the company and therefore the alleged knowledge through the

purported email dated 12.09.2005 should not have been considered by the

authorities. At any event, it is his contention that the application ought to have

been filed within 5 years from the date of such knowledge, whereas, the

application has been filed beyond the period of limitation and therefore the

said application is not maintainable. Hence, according to the learned counsel

appearing for the petitioner, the impugned order dated 17.07.2012, of the

second respondent has to be set aside. In support of his submissions, the

learned counsel appearing for the petitioner relied on the following judgments:

(i) Congruent Info-tech Pvt Ltd., Vs. The Regional Director,

Southern Region, Ministry of Company Affairs in W.P.No.40035 of 2005

dated 16.10.2019.

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

(ii) Maharashtra Housing Development Authority Vs. Shapoorji

Pallonji and Company Private Limited reported in (2018) 3 SCC 13.

8. Whereas, the learned counsel appearing for the 3rd respondent

submitted that civil proceedings is pending between the parties in respect of

the trademark relating to goods and services, whereas Sections 22 and 20 of

the Companies Act and Section 29 of the Trademarks Act operate under

different spear. Therefore, mere pendency of the civil suit will not be a bar to

exercise the power conferred under the Statute namely the Companies Act.

Therefore, the learned counsel appearing for the 3rd respondent would submit

that the application has been filed to rectify the same within a period of five

years. Since the last date of limitation being a Sunday, the application has

been filed on the following working day i.e. on Monday, which has been

properly considered by the 2nd respondent. Therefore, according to the

learned counsel appearing for the 3rd respondent, the contention of the writ

petitioner that the application is barred by limitation has no legs to stand. In

support of his submissions, the learned counsel appearing for the 3rd

respondent relied on the following judgments:

(i) State of Madhya Pradesh Vs. Anshuman Shukla reported in

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

(2008) 7 SCC 487.

(ii) Surya Elevator and Escalators India Pvt. Ltd., Vs. Union of India

reported in (2013) 177 Comp Cas 230 (Karn).

(iii) Montari Overseas Ltd. Vs. Montari Industries Ltd. reported in

ILR 1997 Delhi 64.

(iv) K.G.Khosla Compressors Ltd., Vs. Khosla Extraktions Ltd.

reported in AIR 1986 Delhi 181.

(v) CGMP Pharmaplan Pvt. Ltd., Regional Director reported in

MANU/DE/2116/2010.

(vi) Mondelez Foods Private Limited Vs. The Regional Director

reported in (2017) 204 Comp Cas 169.

9. I have heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and also

perused the entire materials available on record carefully.

10. Challenge has been made to the impugned order dated 17.07.2012

passed by the second respondent, under Section 22 of the Companies Act

directing the petitioner viz. "Raymond Pharmaceuticals Private Limited"

registered in the State of Tamil Nadu, Chennai to change its name within a

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

period of three months from the date of the said order.

11. The 3rd respondent has filed an application claiming that the writ

petitioner has registered his company in the name "Raymond Pharmaceuticals

Private Limited" in the State of Tamil Nadu much after the registration of the

trademark of the 3rd respondent. The third respondent was original

incorporated in the year 1925 under the Companies Act, 1913 in the name

"The Raymond Woollen Mills Limited" having its registered office at 'Plot

No.156/H.No.2, Village Zadgaon, Ratnagiri - 415 612, Maharashtra. It

appears that subsequently the 3rd respondent changed its name as "Raymond

Limited" with effect from 31.03.1995. Thereafter, the 3rd respondent is the

registered proprietor of the mark "Raymond" in Indian and abroad. In India it

has registered the mark "Raymond" under various Clauses including 3, 19, 23,

24, 25, 35 and 40. To substantiate these aspects, necessary documents have

been filed in the typed set of papers and these facts are also not disputed.

12. The writ petitioner appears to have registered the company in the

name "Raymond Pharmaceuticals Private Limited" on 31.03.1983 much after

the company of the 3rd respondent has been registered in the year 1925 and

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

the 3rd respondent has also acquired the trademark name in India and also

abroad under various clauses. It is the case of the 3rd respondent that they

came to know about the registration of a company in the name of the 3rd

respondent viz., "Raymond" on 12.09.2005 by the petitioner and thereafter

immediately within the period of 5 years, the 3rd respondent has filed an

application under Section 22 of the Companies Act for rectification.

13. The contention of the writ petitioner before the 2nd respondent is

that an interim order has been passed in favour of the petitioner in a Civil Suit

filed by the 3rd respondent and the same has reached finality. Now the 3rd

respondent cannot seek for rectification and further his civil suit is pending

and under such circumstance the application filed by the 3rd respondent ought

not to have been decided by the 2nd respondent.

14. Section 20 of the Companies Act, 1956 deals with companies not to

be registered with undesirable names. Section 20 reads as follows:

"Section 20. COMPANIES NOT TO BE REGISTERED WITH UNDESIRABLE NAMES,--

(1) No company shall be registered by a name which, in the opinion of the Central Government, is undesirable.

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, a name which is identical with, or too nearly resembles,-

(i) The name by which a company in existence has been previously registered, or

(ii) a registered trade mark, or a trade mark which is subject of an application for registration, of any other person under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, may be deemed to be undesirable by the Central Government within the meaning of sub-section (1).

(3) The Central Government may, before deeming a name as undesirable under clause (ii) of sub-section (2), consult the Registrar of Trade Marks."

15. A perusal of the above Section makes it clear that the name by

which a company is in existence has been previously registered or a registered

trade mark, or a trade mark which is subject of an application for registration,

of any other person under the Trade Marks Act, such company may be

deemed to be undesirable by the Central Government within the meaning of

sub-section (1).

16. Section 22 of the Companies Act deals with Rectification of name

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

of company, the said section reads as follows:

"Section 22. RECTIFICATION OF NAME OF COMPANY,--

(1) If, through inadvertence or otherwise, a company on its first registration or on its registration by a new name, is registered by a name which-

(i) in the opinion of the Central Government, is identical with, or too nearly resembles, the name by which a company in existence has been previously registered, whether under this Act or any previous companies law, the first-mentioned company, or

(ii) on an application by a registered proprietor of a trade mark, is in the opinion of the Central Government identical with, or too nearly resembles, a registered trade mark of such proprietor under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, such company,

(a) may, by ordinary resolution and with the previous approval of the Central Government signified in writing, change its name or new name ;

and

(b) shall, if the Central Government so directs within twelve months of its first registration or registration by its new name, as the case may be, or within twelve months of the commencement of this https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

W.P.No.28593 of 2012

Act, whichever is later, by ordinary resolution and with the previous approval of the Central Government signified in writing, change its name or new name within a period of three months from the date of the direction or such longer period as the Central Government may think fit to allow.

Provided that no application under clause (ii) made by a registered proprietor of a trade mark after five years of coming to notice of registration of the company shall be considered by the Central Government.

(2) If a company makes default in complying with any direction given under clause (b) of sub- section (1), the company, and every officer who is in default, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees for every day during which the default continues."

17. A perusal of the above Section makes it clear that an application by

a registered proprietor of a trademark can be made for rectification on the

ground that the registered proprietor's trademark is identical with or too nearly

resembles with the registered trademark of such registered company. The

proviso to the said Section makes it clear that after the knowledge of existence

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

of any company, any application for rectification ought to have been made

within a period of five years from the date of notice of registration of the

company.

18. It is the specific case of the 3rd respondent that they acquired the

knowledge of the writ petitioner's company only on 12.09.2005 and thereafter,

they filed an application within a period of five years. As, 12.09.2005 being a

Sunday, they filed the application on 13.09.2005, being the very next working

day. Therefore, it is the contention of the 3rd respondent that the application

filed by them is within time.

19. It is relevant to note that the 2nd respondent has conducted enquiry

and also by following due procedure adjudicated the matter. Therefore, it had

all the trappings of the Court while conducting proceedings and Limitation Act

will certainly be applicable. The Hon'ble Apex Court in State of Madhya

Pradesh Vs. Anshuman Shukla reported in (2008) 7 SCC 487 has held that

Administrative Bodies and Tribunal if in fact having the characteristics,

functions and powers of a Court and therefore for all intents and purposes they

are Courts.

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

20. It is not disputed that the application has been submitted to the

second respondent on 13.09.2005 and it is also not disputed that the limitation

period clearly ends on 12.09.2005. It is also not disputed that 12.09.2005 is a

Sunday. As 12.09.2005 being a Sunday, the 3rd respondent naturally

submitted the application on the next working day and therefore the

application has been filed within the period of five years. Therefore, the

contention of the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner that the

limitation has expired and the application of the 3rd respondent ought not to

have been entertained beyond the period of limitation i.e., after five years

cannot be countenanced.

21. The next submission of the learned counsel appearing for the

petitioner that the civil court is seized of the matter in respect of trademark

and infringement suit, the interim order sought for by the 3rd respondent has

not been granted by the learned Single Judge of the Bombay High Court,

which has been ultimately confirmed by the Hon'ble Apex Court.

22. Section 29 of the Trademarks Act deals with registered trademarks

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

relating to goods and services in respect of which trademarks is registered.

When there is infringement, the registered proprietor may sue for

infringement. Whereas Section 22 of the Companies Act deals with

rectification of name of the company. The two Acts act in different field.

Whereas the Trademarks Act deals with infringement relating to goods and

services, whereas Section 22 of the Companies Act deals with rectification of

the name of the company which are identical with or too nearly resembles the

registered trademark of any proprietor under the Trademarks Act.

23. Therefore, merely because an interim order was not in favour of the

third respondent in the civil suit, that will not have any relevance to decide the

application filed under Section 22 of the Companies Act since both Section 29

of the Trademarks Act and Section 22 of the Companies Act operate in

different field and independent of each other.

24. In this regard, a learned Single Judge of the Karnataka High Court

in Surya Elevators and Escalators India Private Limited Vs. Union of India

reported in (2013) 177 Comp Cas 230 (Karn) has held that mere pendency of

a civil suit has no relevance to decide an application under Section 22 of the

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

Companies Act and the contention that pendency of civil proceedings under

Section 22 of the Companies Act ought not to have been entertained was also

rejected.

25. The Delhi High Court in Montari Overseas Ltd., Vs. Montari

Industries Ltd., reported in ILR 1997 Delhi 64 has held that the remedy

under Section 22 of the Companies Act and other common law will operate in

different fields.

26. The Delhi High Court in K.G.Khosla Compressors Ltd., Vs.

Khosla Extrakting Ltd reported in AIR 1986 Delhi 181 has held that the

jurisdiction of the Civil Court is independent of and separate from that of the

Central Government under Section 20 of the Companies Act.

27. The Delhi High Court in CGMP Pharmaplan Pvt. Ltd., Vs.

Regional Director, Ministry of Corporate Affairs reported in

MANU/DE/2116/2010 has held in paragraph 17 as follows:

"17. The decision in Montari Overseas Limited makes it clear that a civil court exercising its powers in terms of the CPC and determining in a

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W.P.No.28593 of 2012

passing-off action if one name is confusingly deceptive or similar to another name, is exercising a jurisdiction independent of the jurisdiction of Respondent No. 1 in respect of the registering of a company"s name. The latter is a power vested in the central government in terms of Sections 20 and 22 of the Act. While it is true that the Respondent No. 1 cannot approach the case as it would in a trade mark dispute, it is nevertheless required to come to the conclusion whether the name of which the registration is sought or has been granted too nearly resembles the name of another company. Mr. Chandra is right in his contention that the powers of the central government under Section 22 of the Act are wider inasmuch as there is no need to examine whether there is a likelihood of deception or confusion. It is enough to examine if the name registered too nearly resembles another registered name. The Respondent No.2 has been able to show that both names too nearly resemble each other."

28. The Delhi High Court in Mondelez Foods Private Limited Vs. The

Regional Director (North), Ministry of Corporate Affairs reported in 2017

SCC Online Del 9219 in paragraph 12 has held as follows:

"12. Section 22 of the Act is not happily https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

W.P.No.28593 of 2012

worded. Whereas Section 22(1)(i) of the Act, does not indicate that the Central Government is precluded from directing change of name in case the same is found to be undesirable; Section 22(1)(ii)(b) of the Act indicates that the company with an undesirable name is obliged to change its name only on receipt of such directions within a period of twelve months from the date of registration. Further, the introduction of proviso to Section 22(1) must also be given some meaning;

plainly, if the owner of a registered trade mark is not precluded from making a complaint within a period of five years of becoming aware of a company with a deceptively similar name, the power of the RD to examine and address such complaint should be read in the statutory provision. However, it is not necessary to examine the same in view of the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 which are now in force. In terms of Section 16 of the Companies Act, 2013, the Central Government is empowered to issue directions to a company to change its name, if it is similar to the name of a company registered prior in point of time......"

29. The interim order dated 15.02.2007 has been passed by the Bombay

High Court in Civil Suit No.437 of 2006 mainly on the ground that the https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

W.P.No.28593 of 2012

petitioner herein used the trademark name "Raymond" not in relation to the

goods or services in respect of which the 3rd respondent's trade mark is

registered since the petitioner did not use it on any of the 3rd respondent's

products. Hence, the use is not in such a manner as is likely to be taken as

being used as a trademark. The above order has been passed taking note of the

fact the nature of good and services rendered by the contesting parties.

Therefore, merely because injunction was rejected in favour of the 3rd

respondent, it cannot be said that he has no remedy under the Companies Act.

As the Companies Act operate in a different field, what is required to be seen

in the Companies Act is whether the trademark is identical with or too nearly

resembles a registered trademark. Therefore, mere assumption of identical

name or name resembles a registered trademark is suffice to take action under

Section 22 of the Companies Act and it is in no way dealt with goods or

services.

30. Therefore, this Court is of the view that when an application has

been filed within the period of five years and the name "Raymond" resembled

with the name of the third respondent, the order passed by the second

respondent cannot be faulted.

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31. It is yet another contention of the learned counsel appearing for the

petitioner that since the application has now been filed on the Online portal,

the same ought to have been filed on 12.09.2005 itself. It is relevant to note

that it is not a mere submission just like e-tender, it is an application to be

submitted before the authority within the relevant period of time. Even the

application are filed on-line, it cannot be taken as filing since the entire office

of the 2nd respondent was not functioning during Sunday, therefore it cannot

be said that Limitation Act will not be applicable. Section 12(1) of the

Limitation Act deals with exclusion of time in legal proceedings. Therefore,

the last day being a holiday (Sunday), the filling of an application on the very

next working day was in order and within the period of five years. The

Judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court relied upon by the learned counsel

appearing for the petitioner in Maharashtra Housing Development

Authority Vs. Shapoorji Pallonji and Company reported in (2018) 3 SCC 13

relates to the filing of e-tender. On the date of submission of the e-tender,

there was enough time and on that context the Hon'ble Supreme Court has

held that e-tender ought to have been filed within time and the same is not

applicable to the facts and circumstances of this case.

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32. Further, Section 4 of the Limitation Act, 1963 makes it clear that the

period prescribed for any suit, appeal, or application expires on a day when

the Court is closed, the suit, appeal or application may be instituted, preferred

or made on the date when the Court re-opens. Therefore in the given case the

relevant date expired on Sunday and on the very next working day the

application has been filed by the 3rd respondent and the same has been

entertained by the 2nd respondent. Therefore the contention of the learned

counsel appearing for the petitioner that the limitation period has expired has

no legs to stand.

33. Considering the entire order passed by the second respondent, this

Court do not find any illegality or irregularity in the same. The second

respondent has rightly invoked the powers under Section 22 of the Companies

Act and the 3rd respondent company being incorporated in the year 1925 and

it has registered the trademark under various Clauses including 3, 19, 23, 24,

25, 35 and 40. Whereas, the petitioner's company has been registered in the

year 1983 much after the registration of the 3rd respondent company in the

year 1925.

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

W.P.No.28593 of 2012

34. Such view the matter, the impugned order dated 17.07.2012, passed

by the second respondent directing the petitioner Company to change its name

does not require any interference and accordingly this writ petition is

dismissed. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

No costs.

02.12.2022 Index : Yes / No kk

To

1. The Secretary to Government, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi - 110 011.

2. The Regional Director, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Southern Region, Haddows Road, Shastri Bhawan, Chennai - 600 006.

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

W.P.No.28593 of 2012

N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.

kk

W.P.No.28593 of 2012 and M.P.Nos.1 & 2 of 2012

02.12.2022

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

 
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