Arbitrator Can't Pierce Corporate Veil To Fasten Liability On Non-Signatory: Madras High Court Partially Sets Aside Award

The Madras High Court partially set aside an arbitral award holding that arbitrator cannot pierce a corporate veil or treat a non-signatory as an alter ego to fasten liability, while modifying the award to direct repayment of a loan of Rs. 2.5 crore with interest. Justice N. Anand Venkatesh held that the arbitrator exceeded its jurisdiction by treating a third party as the petitioner's sister concern and concluding breach of contract based on that inference. Sugesan Transport Pvt....

Even Though Evidence Act Is Not Applicable To Arbitration, Tribunal Must Follow Its Core Principles: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has recently observed that although arbitral tribunals are not bound by the Evidence Act, they must still follow its foundational principles when assessing evidence to avoid judicial scrutiny. A single bench of Justice N Anand Venkatesh stated that “the fundamental principles of the Evidence Act which provides the basis for dealing with the case must be satisfied failing which the Arbitral Award will infract the fundamental policy of Indian law. It can also lead to...

Madras High Court Temporarily Restrains Makers Of "Dude" Movie From Using Songs Of Ilaiyaraaja

The Madras High Court, on Friday (28th November), temporarily restrained the makers of the "Dude" movie from using the songs of renowned musician Ilaiyaraaja. Justice N Senthilkumar granted an interim injunction in a plea moved by the musician seeking to restrain Mythri Movie Makers, producers of the "Dude" movie, from using his songs unauthorisedly. The court had reserved orders on November 26, after hearing the parties. Ilaiyaraaja had approached the court seeking a permanent...

Madras High Court Quashes Order Allowing Pfizer To Seek Documents From Indian Drug Manufacturer For US Suit

The Madras High Court has overturned a Single Judge's order that had permitted pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to enforce Letters Rogatory issued by a United States court to obtain documents and testimony from Chennai-based Softgel Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. Letters Rogatory are formal requests sent by a court in one country to a court in another country seeking assistance in gathering evidence for a legal proceedingA division bench of Justice G Jayachandran and Justice Mummineni Sudheer Kumar ruled on...

Ilaiyaraaja Moves Madras High Court Against 'Unauthorised' Use Of His Songs In Dude Movie, Court Reserves Order On Interim Plea

The Madras High Court, on Wednesday, reserved orders on a plea moved by renowned musician Ilaiyaraaja seeking to temporarily restrain Mythri Movie Makers from 'unauthorisedly' using his songs in the recent Tamil movie "Dude", starring Pradeep Ranganathan and Mamitha Baiju. Justice N Senthilkumar reserved orders on the interim injunction plea moved by the musician. Ilaiyaraaja has approached the court seeking a permanent injunction restraining the producers of the Dude movie from using his...

Madras High Court Allows Udaipur Salon To Use 'Bounce', Rejects South Indian Chain's Appeal

The Madras High Court has dismissed appeals filed by Spalon India Private Limited, operator of the “BOUNCE” salon chain in South India, against an order vacating the interim injunction earlier granted in its favour over the use of the word “Bounce” by an Udaipur-based salon, “Bounce Salon & Makeover Studio.”A Division Bench of Justice G Jayachandran and Justice Mummineni Sudheer Kumar, on November 21, 2025, upheld the Single Judge's finding that the rival marks and logos were sufficiently...

Madras High Court Orders New PAN For Assessee After Dept-Issued Duplicate PAN Ruins CIBIL Score

The Madras High Court has directed the department to issue a fresh PAN (Permanent Account Number) to the assessee, who suffered adverse consequences because the defaulter holding the same PAN had a bad CIBIL. The bench held that the assessee cannot be made to bear serious CIBIL consequences arising from the Income Tax Department's duplicate PAN allotment. Justice C. Saravanan stated that the PAN that was allotted to the assessee on 18.05.2007 was also erroneously allotted to the said...

Madras High Court Asks Patent Office To Re-Evaluate Objections Against Allied Metallurgical's Anti-Stick Coating Patent

The Madras High Court has recently set aside a Patent Office order that refused Hi Tech Chemicals' challenge to an anti-stick coating patent owned by Allied Metallurgical Products, after finding that the authority failed to properly examine the objections raised. The court said that “the quality of obviousness analysis leaves much to be desired” and directed a fresh hearing before a different officer. A single bench of Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, delivering the judgment on November...

Customs Cannot Take Independent View Against CESTAT Classification; Wheat Gluten Eligible For DFIA Exemption: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has held that once CESTAT has classified wheat gluten as eligible for DFIA (Duty-Free Import Authorisation) exemption, Customs authorities are bound by those findings and cannot independently deny the exemption benefits. Justice N. Anand Venkatesh stated that the impugned orders have been passed only on the ground that Wheat Gluten is not covered under the DFIA Licence and, therefore, the assessee is not eligible to claim exemption. If the CESTAT has already...

Madras High Court Revives Sreedevi Video's Dispute With Saregama Over Rights To Tamil, Telegu Film Music

The Madras High Court has revived a copyright dispute over the audio rights to iconic Telegu and Tamil films including Sagara Sangamam, Salangai Oli, Shankarabharanam and Sitara, holding that Sreedevi Video Corporation's claim seeking a permanent injunction against Saregama India Ltd must be examined on merits even though its request for a declaration of ownership is time-barred. On November 19, 2025, a Division Bench of Justice G Jayachandran and Justice Mummineni Sudheer Kumar partly set...

Madras High Court Protects Personality Rights Of Musician Ilaiyaraaja

The Madras High Court, on friday, passed an interim order protecting the personality rights of renowned musician Ilaiyaraaja against unauthorised usage of his name, images, and other works by third parties. Justice N Senthilkumar found a prima facie case in favour of the musician and granted interim relief in a suit moved by Ilaiyaraaja seeking to protect his personality rights. The court has also directed the respondents to file their counter. "Since the plaintiff has made out a prima...

Madras High Court Restrains Makers Of “Aromaley” Film From Using Scenes And Background Music Of “Vinnaithandi Varuvaya” Movie

The Madras High Court has temporarily restrained the makers of the new Tamil movie “Aromaley” from using the scenes and background music from the 2010 Tamil movie “Vinnaithandi Varuvaya”. Justice N Senthilkumar passed the interim orders on a plea moved by RS Infotainment, producers of Vinnaithandi Varuvaya. The production company had submitted that it had produced the 2010 movie in collaboration with Escape Artists Motion Pictures, under a Joint Venture Agreement dated February ...