IBC vs PMLA, HDFC CEO vs Lilavati, Prada vs Kolhapuri chappal, and more

“Whether it is during an Emergency or under any government, there is always a threat to the independence of the judiciary…That is why judges and members of the Bar must stay alert. This is not a one-time struggle,”
 — Justice (retd.) Abhay Oka while delivering the H.R. Khanna memorial lecture in Goa

Kolhapuri vs. Prada lands in High Court 
A traditional Indian craft is at the heart of a growing legal and ethical storm. A public interest litigation filed before the Bombay High Court accuses Italian luxury brand Prada of culturally appropriating the iconic Kolhapuri chappal—a GI-tagged leather sandal design from Maharashtra.

Prada recently showcased leather sandals strikingly similar to Kolhapuris, later acknowledging the Indian inspiration. But with the original design protected by a Geographical Indication tag, is mere acknowledgment enough?

The PIL seeks stronger legal safeguards for Indian artisans and their heritage designs—marking a rare legal test of India’s power to protect its traditional crafts from global appropriation.

As the case awaits hearing, Prada is reportedly exploring talks with local artisans. Whether this results in legal accountability or collaborative compensation remains to be seen.

The Week That Was
Key Rulings

• In a significant ruling, the National Company Law Tribunal has ruled that insolvency proceedings under the IBC cannot be used to frustrate ongoing or pending PMLA proceedings

Courts 

• Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea by HDFC MD-CEO in Lilavati hospital trust case, sends the matter back to Bombay High Court.
• A PIL is filed before the Bombay High Court seeking action against luxury fashion company Prada for allegedly misappropriating the traditional Kolhapuri chappal design.
• Delhi High Court denies relief to Toyota in patent infringement case against an Indian firm.
• A Division bench of the Karnataka High Court agrees to hear a plea by Proton Mail challenging a single-judge order to block the services in India.
• Delhi High Court revives a copyright passing off suit by US shoemaker Crocs against Indian footwear makers
• Delhi High Court directs Patanjali to take down disparaging remarks against Dabur Chawanprash in an interim order.

Quasi Courts

• SEBI bars Jane Street Group from accessing security market over alleged unlawful gains from alleged stock market manipulation
• The CCI has ordered an inquiry into Asian Paints over alleged abuse of dominance position in the relevant market on complaint by Grasim Industries Ltd
• Former captain of Indian men’s cricket team MS Dhoni is one step closer to securing trademark over the phrase Captain Cool as his application gets formally accepted by the Trademarks Registry opening up a window for filing objections, if any, by others. 
• SIAC awards ₹237 million as legal cost to Amazon in its dispute with the Future group

The Big Listings
July 2: Delhi local court to hold daily hearings in National Herald Case against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi
July 7: Madras High Court to hear Celebi’s petition for protection as regards Chennai airport while arbitration proceedings are underway
July 7: Bombay High Court to hear Celebi’s petition against being replaced at Mumbai’s airport while arbitration proceedings are underway
July 14: Bombay High Court scheduled to hear a petition by HDFC Bank’s MD-CEO against an FIR filed against him by the trust that operates Lilavati hospital
August 1: NCLT’s principal bench is scheduled to hear BPSL’s former promoter’s plea for initiating liquidation in line with top court’s order
August 20: Supreme Court to hear Flipkart’s appeal against a high court which affirmed CCI probe into the company
* The dates of hearing can change and a concrete list is prepared just a day before

• Legal Moves Supreme Court Collegium recommends:
  Appointment of 3 judicial officers as Delhi High Court judges
  Appointment of 10 judicial officers as judges to the Punjab & Haryana High Court
  Appointment of five lawyers and five judicial officers as judges to Madhya Pradesh High Court
  Appointment of one advocate and judicial officer each as judges to the Rajasthan High Court
  Appointment of two lawyers as judges to the Patna High Court
  Appointment of two advocates and judicial officers each as judges to Gauhati High Court
  Appointment of four advocates as judges to the Telangana High Court
  Appointment of one lawyer as judge to the Andhra Pradesh High Court
  Appointment of Justice Biswadeep Bhattacharya of Meghalaya High Court as permanent
• Centre clears appointment of two lawyers as additional judges of the Bombay High Court
• Priyadarshi Debashis Satapathy joins Hinduja Renewables as Legal Head
• Ambarish and tanavi Mohanty rejoin Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas
• Shalini Saxena returns to Pine Labs as General Counsel
• Vaibhav Singh leaves SAM with his entire team to join Veritas Legal
• Ayan De joins AKS Partners in Delhi