Interim Relief - Temporary Injunctions- should not be based on Affidavits alone- Mujeeb Modern Rice Mills v. P. Doraisamy Gounder, (2010) 15 SCC 459

Interim Relief - Temporary Injunctions- should not be based on Affidavits alone - (2010) 15 SCC 459

The Apex Court held that temporary injunctions or any interim relief cannot be granted merely by filing affidavits without any documentary evidence. For granting Interim Relief the court should consider the prima facie case established on the bases of the documentary evidence. Mere filing of affidavit would not entitle parties Interim Relief.

S. 106 - Interim relief - Grant of - Determination of prior use - In absence of any evidence and only on affidavits -Impermissibility - Counter-suits for restraining use of Maharaja brand unregistered trademark by appellant and respondent against each other, both selling packaged rice - Division Bench of High Court granting interim relief to respondent in absence of documentary evidence and based solely on affidavits, concluding respondent was using trade mark prior in point of time to appellant - Impermissibility of - Held, it is inappropriate to decide issue on basis of affidavits alone in a case which relates to utilisation of a trade mark - In has to be, at least prima facie, established in application for interim relief that applicant has been utilising trade mark as claimed by it - Division Bench wrongly cast onus on appellant for establishing its claim without considering question as to whether respondent had led any evidence whatsoever to establish its claim on basis of which interim relief could be granted - When applications for registration of trade mark in question were admittedly pending, no documentary evidence was produced and court was to decide issue on the basis of the affidavits alone, no interim injunction should have been granted as prayed for by respondent – Interim relief granted to respondent set aside, (2010) 15 SCC 459.