{"id":17368,"date":"2026-03-18T11:20:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T11:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/?p=17368"},"modified":"2026-03-18T11:24:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T11:24:33","slug":"a-person-who-does-not-come-to-the-court-with-clean-hands-is-not-entitled-to-be-heard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-person-who-does-not-come-to-the-court-with-clean-hands-is-not-entitled-to-be-heard\/","title":{"rendered":"A Person Who Does Not Come To The Court With Clean Hands Is Not Entitled To Be Heard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"introduction\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction\"><\/span>Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Bombay High Court has once again demonstrated its zero-tolerance approach towards litigants who approach the court with unclean hands while simultaneously underscoring the limited scope of passing off actions when parties operate in non-overlapping segments of the same broad industry.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-person-who-does-not-come-to-the-court-with-clean-hands-is-not-entitled-to-be-heard\/#Introduction\" >Introduction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-person-who-does-not-come-to-the-court-with-clean-hands-is-not-entitled-to-be-heard\/#Factual_Background\" >Factual Background<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-person-who-does-not-come-to-the-court-with-clean-hands-is-not-entitled-to-be-heard\/#Plaintiff_Rynox_Gears\" >Plaintiff: Rynox Gears<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-person-who-does-not-come-to-the-court-with-clean-hands-is-not-entitled-to-be-heard\/#Defendant_Steelite_India\" >Defendant: Steelite India<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-person-who-does-not-come-to-the-court-with-clean-hands-is-not-entitled-to-be-heard\/#Comparative_Overview\" >Comparative Overview<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-person-who-does-not-come-to-the-court-with-clean-hands-is-not-entitled-to-be-heard\/#Procedural_Background\" >Procedural Background<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-person-who-does-not-come-to-the-court-with-clean-hands-is-not-entitled-to-be-heard\/#Reasoning_Court_Addressed_The_Infringement_Claim\" >Reasoning: Court Addressed The Infringement Claim<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-person-who-does-not-come-to-the-court-with-clean-hands-is-not-entitled-to-be-heard\/#Passing_Off_Analysis\" >Passing Off Analysis<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-person-who-does-not-come-to-the-court-with-clean-hands-is-not-entitled-to-be-heard\/#Merits_Of_Passing_Off\" >Merits Of Passing Off<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-person-who-does-not-come-to-the-court-with-clean-hands-is-not-entitled-to-be-heard\/#Judgements_With_Complete_Citation_Discussed_And_Decision_Of_Court\" >Judgements With Complete Citation Discussed And Decision Of Court<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-person-who-does-not-come-to-the-court-with-clean-hands-is-not-entitled-to-be-heard\/#Point_Of_Law_Settled_In_The_Case\" >Point Of Law Settled In The Case<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-person-who-does-not-come-to-the-court-with-clean-hands-is-not-entitled-to-be-heard\/#Case_Details\" >Case Details<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bombay High Court dismissed the interim injunction application filed by Rynox Gears against Steelite India, holding that no case of trademark infringement arises against a registered proprietor and that the passing off claim fails on multiple counts including suppression of material facts, absence of goodwill in the relevant segment, and insufficient similarity between the composite marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ruling serves as a stark reminder that false pleadings about product lines and service of notices can result in outright dismissal at the threshold stage, even before merits are fully examined, and that common field of activity remains a relevant but not decisive factor in passing off jurisprudence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"factual-background\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Factual_Background\"><\/span>Factual Background<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"plaintiff-rynox-gears\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Plaintiff_Rynox_Gears\"><\/span>Plaintiff: Rynox Gears<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rynox Gears, a Mumbai-based partnership firm established in 2012, has been marketing motorcycle protective accessories such as jackets, gloves, pants, and luggage systems under the trademark \u201cRYNOX\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The word mark was applied for on 31 August 2016 with a user claim since 16 February 2012 and published in the Trade Marks Journal on 23 January 2017.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A device mark incorporating the word \u201cRYNOX\u201d was applied for in 2019.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The plaintiff maintains an e-commerce website at https:\/\/rynoxgear.com.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Has secured approximately 23 registrations across classes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Substantial promotional expenses and sales turnover (Rs. 42 crores in 2022-2023) are pleaded to establish goodwill.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"defendant-steelite-india\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Defendant_Steelite_India\"><\/span>Defendant: Steelite India<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Steelite India, a Delhi-based partnership constituted in 2016, adopted the mark \u201cRHYNOX\u201d (with a distinctive rhinoceros device and stylised \u201cX\u201d) as a homage to the state animal of Assam.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The defendant claims use since December 2016 for safety helmets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Applied for registration in Class 9 on 2 January 2017 and secured registration without opposition on 28 November 2020.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The defendant also registered the domain www.rhynoxhelmets.co.in in 2019.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Has been continuously marketing helmets since 2017, supported by a Chartered Accountant\u2019s certificate of turnover.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Asserts honest adoption after a trademark search that did not reveal the plaintiff\u2019s then-unpublished application.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"comparative-overview\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Comparative_Overview\"><\/span>Comparative Overview<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Aspect<\/th><th>Rynox Gears<\/th><th>Steelite India<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Year Established<\/td><td>2012<\/td><td>2016<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Trademark<\/td><td>\u201cRYNOX\u201d<\/td><td>\u201cRHYNOX\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Product Category<\/td><td>Motorcycle accessories<\/td><td>Safety helmets<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Trademark Application<\/td><td>31 August 2016<\/td><td>2 January 2017<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Registration Status<\/td><td>Multiple registrations<\/td><td>Registered (28 November 2020)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"procedural-background\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Procedural_Background\"><\/span>Procedural Background<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The plaintiff instituted Commercial IP Suit (Lodging) No.35513 of 2024 seeking injunction for infringement and passing off.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Along with the suit, Interim Application (Lodging) No.897 of 2025 was moved under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2 CPC.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The defendant filed a limited affidavit-in-reply raising suppression of facts, denial of jurisdiction, and asserting prior adoption and registration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The plaintiff filed a rejoinder attempting to establish cognate goods and explaining the cease-and-desist notice dated 25 October 2023.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Both sides advanced detailed oral submissions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The matter was reserved on 25 February 2026 and pronounced on 17 March 2026.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"reasoning-court-analysis\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reasoning_Court_Addressed_The_Infringement_Claim\"><\/span>Reasoning: Court Addressed The Infringement Claim<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Court addressed the infringement claim and held that Section 28(3) and Section 30(2)(e) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 expressly protect co-existing registered proprietors from infringement actions against each other. Relying on the Full Bench decision in Lupin Ltd. v. Johnson &amp; Johnson, the court noted that it can go beyond registration only in cases of ex facie illegality or fraud shocking the conscience of the court. Here, the defendant\u2019s registration preceded the plaintiff\u2019s publication and was granted without opposition; no pleadings or arguments assailed its validity on fraud grounds. Thus, no prima facie case for infringement existed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"passing-off-analysis\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Passing_Off_Analysis\"><\/span>Passing Off Analysis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turning to passing off, the court found the plaintiff guilty of making false statements on oath. The plaint repeatedly claimed the plaintiff manufactured and marketed helmets since 2012, a fact contradicted by the defendant and not supported by evidence; the rejoinder shifted to a new plea of \u201ccognate\u201d or \u201callied\u201d goods only after the defence was raised. Similarly, the plaint asserted receipt of the cease-and-desist notice and consequent takedown of the defendant\u2019s website, yet the rectification application filed by the plaintiff itself admitted the notice was returned undelivered. The rejoinder compounded the falsehood by claiming misplaced proof of delivery. Citing Ramjas Foundation &amp; Anr. v. Union of India &amp; Ors., the court held that a litigant approaching with unclean hands is not entitled to be heard on merits and the application deserved dismissal at the threshold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"merits-of-passing-off\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Merits_Of_Passing_Off\"><\/span>Merits Of Passing Off<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even on merits, the court found no case for passing off. The plaintiff failed to demonstrate goodwill in the helmet segment as on the date of the defendant\u2019s adoption in 2016; sales figures were for riding gear, not helmets. The composite marks were dissimilar\u2014the defendant\u2019s rhinoceros device and exaggerated \u201cX\u201d provided sufficient added matter to distinguish, as held in Kaviraj Pandit Durga Dutt Sharma v. Navaratna Pharmaceuticals Laboratories. A solitary e-commerce instance on Meesho was insufficient to prove misrepresentation or likelihood of deception. Common field of activity, though relevant per Kirloskar Diesel Recon Pvt. Ltd. v. Kirloskar Proprietary Ltd., was absent; helmets and riding apparel target different consumer expectations and trade channels. Balance of convenience favoured the defendant, who had built a running business since 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"judgments-and-citations\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Judgements_With_Complete_Citation_Discussed_And_Decision_Of_Court\"><\/span>Judgements With Complete Citation Discussed And Decision Of Court<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lupin Ltd. v. Johnson &amp; Johnson ((2014) SCC OnLine Bom 4596):<\/strong> To hold that infringement relief is unavailable against a registered proprietor unless registration is ex facie illegal or fraudulent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ramjas Foundation &amp; Anr. v. Union of India &amp; Ors. ((2010) 14 SCC 38):<\/strong> For the principle that unclean hands disentitle a party from equitable relief at the interim stage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kirloskar Diesel Recon Pvt. Ltd. &amp; Anr. v. Kirloskar Proprietary Ltd. &amp; Ors. (1995 SCC OnLine Bom 312):<\/strong> To emphasise that while common field is not the sole criterion, it remains a relevant factor and misrepresentation must be shown from the perspective of the public\u2019s state of mind.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kaviraj Pandit Durga Dutt Sharma v. Navaratna Pharmaceuticals Laboratories (1964 SCC OnLine SC 40):<\/strong> To hold that added matter in a composite mark can sufficiently distinguish goods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The defendant\u2019s submissions on co-existence and bona fide adoption were accepted in light of the sequence of registration dates. In the result, the Interim Application was dismissed in its entirety with no order as to costs. The suit was directed to proceed to trial on remaining issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"point-of-law-settled\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Point_Of_Law_Settled_In_The_Case\"><\/span>Point Of Law Settled In The Case<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>False statements regarding product lines, service of notices, and suppression of material facts in pleadings constitute unclean hands sufficient to dismiss an interim injunction application at the threshold without examining the merits of passing off.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In co-existence of registered trademarks, infringement relief is statutorily barred unless registration is challenged and shown to be ex facie illegal or fraudulent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For passing off, goodwill must be demonstrated in the specific segment in which the defendant trades as on the date of the defendant\u2019s adoption; mere association with a broader industry is insufficient.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Composite marks with distinctive devices and stylised elements provide added matter that can negate misrepresentation even if word elements are phonetically similar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A solitary instance of confusion on an e-commerce platform is inadequate to prove likelihood of deception.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"case-details\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Case_Details\"><\/span>Case Details<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Particulars<\/th><th>Details<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>Case Title<\/td><td>Rynox Gears Vs. Steelite India<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Date Of Order<\/td><td>17.03.2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Case Number<\/td><td>Interim Application (Lodging) No.897 of 2025 in Commercial IP Suit (Lodging) No.35513 of 2024<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Neutral Citation<\/td><td>2026:BHC-OS:8734<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Name Of Court<\/td><td>High Court Of Judicature At Bombay (Ordinary Original Civil Jurisdiction In Its Commercial Division)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Name Of Hon&#8217;ble Judge<\/td><td>Sharmila U. Deshmukh, J.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Disclaimer:<\/strong> Readers are advised not to treat this as substitute for legal advise as it may contain errors in perception, interpretation, and presentation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Written By: Advocate Ajay Amitabh Suman,<\/strong> IP Adjutor [Patent and Trademark Attorney], High Court of Delhi<br>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction The Bombay High Court has once again demonstrated its zero-tolerance approach towards litigants who approach the court with unclean hands while simultaneously underscoring the limited scope of passing off actions when parties operate in non-overlapping segments of the same broad industry. Bombay High Court dismissed the interim injunction application filed by Rynox Gears against<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"two_page_speed":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[5149,28],"class_list":["post-17368","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-intellectual-property","tag-intellectual-property","tag-top-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - 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