Recently, the Delhi High Court has come down strongly on a Bhiwadi-based school accused of imitating the iconic Delhi Public School (DPS) identity, observing that the marks adopted by the institution were prima facie deceptively identical to those of the DPS Society. The Court said the overlap was so striking that even an ordinary parent would be misled into believing that the Bhiwadi school was part of the reputed DPS network.
According to the DPS Society, which has been operating schools since 1949 and holds several trademark and copyright registrations over the names “Delhi Public School,” “DPS,” and its shield and leaf logos, the misuse first came to light in October 2025. The plaintiff discovered that a school in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, was inviting admissions under the name Delhi Public School International while using a crest featuring a torch, shield, creepers and banner elements central to DPS’s registered marks. The institution was also operating through the domain www.dpsibhiwadi.in and an email ID that appeared deceptively similar to the Society’s official communication channels.
The DPS Society alleged that parents were being falsely informed about an affiliation with the DPS network. It further pointed out that the director of the Bhiwadi school had, in earlier years, applied twice to register similar logos, both of which were rejected by the Trademark Registry due to conflict with DPS’s existing marks, indicating clear knowledge of the plaintiff’s prior rights. Despite being served through multiple modes email, speed post and dasti, no representative of the Bhiwadi institution appeared before the Court.
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora examined the comparison of logos and marks placed on record and found a clear case of “triple identity” the marks were similar, the services identical, and the consumer base and trade channels common. The Court noted that the DPS brand, recognised as a “well-known trademark,” enjoyed immense goodwill built over decades and through more than 200 schools across India and abroad. In such circumstances, the Court held that the defendants’ adoption of nearly identical marks was neither honest nor bona fide. The earlier rejection of their trademark applications strengthened this conclusion.
In its order, the High Court granted an ex parte ad-interim injunction restraining the Bhiwadi institution, its management and associates from using the name Delhi Public School International, DPS International Bhiwadi, the impugned logos, or any other mark resembling those of the DPS Society in any form whatsoever whether as a school name, domain, email ID or promotional identity. It also directed GoDaddy to lock and suspend the domain www.dpsibhiwadi.in. Compliance under Order XXXIX Rule 3 CPC is to be completed within one week, and the matter has been listed for further proceedings in January and May 2026.
Case Title: Delhi Public School Society v. Delhi Public School International Bhiwadi And Ors.
Case No.: CS(COMM) 1247/2025 & I.A. 29031/2025
Coram: Hon’ble Mr Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora,
Counsel for the Plaintiff: Sr. Adv. Puneet Mittal, Adv. Sakshi Mendiratta, Adv. R.P. Singh , Adv. Kashish Jain
Counsel for the Defendant: None
Read Order @LatestLaws.com
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