14.4 There are various reasons why I find it difficult to accept this
submission of Mr. Lall.
14.5 In the first place, para 43 of the judgment dated 10 June 2021 of
Narula, J. does not restrict the right of the plaintiff, consequent to
release of the film, to damages. It specifically states that, in the event
of a change of circumstance after release of the film, the plaintiff
could re-apply for injunction. That is precisely what the plaintiff has
done by way of IA 10551/2021. In terms of para 43, therefore, this
Bench has necessarily to examine and decide the said application on
its own merits.
14.6 Secondly, the judgment of Narula, J. was rendered at a time
when no film was in existence. Narula, J. was examining the matter
as a quia timet action. The considerations which apply to a quia timet
action are fundamentally different from those which apply to a prayer
for injunction made after the allegedly tortious act is committed. It
would be fundamentally erroneous, therefore, for this Bench to
proceed on the basis of findings and observations returned by Narula,
J., while examining the quia timet injunction application of the
plaintiff when the film had not yet been released.
14.7 Thirdly, the order dated 26 July 2021, of the Division Bench,
specifically states, in para 10, that the Division Bench had not
examined the matter on merits. It goes without saying that, without
examining the merits of the appeal before it, the Division Bench could
Signature Not Verified
Signed By:KAMLA CS(COMM)
RAWAT
Signing Date:12.07.2023
10:10:24
187/2021
Page 12 of 68
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents