Kolhapuri chappal row: Bombay HC dismisses PIL against Prada; questions petitioners’ right to sue
A counter of the Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandep Marne questioned the “locus” and the legal right of the five defenders who opened PIL, saying that they did not have victims or registered property owners or shoes.
“You are not the owner of Kolhapuri Chappal. What is your softening and what is the public interest? Any person who has been struggling can sue. What is the public interest.”
The claim said that Kolhapuri Chappal (Sandals) was protected as a geographical indicator (GI) under the law of geographical indications (registration and protection) of goods.
The bench said that the registered owner of the GI label could go to court and adopt his actions.
The court rejected the objection and said he would later give a detailed order. In the Spring/Summer collections, Prada exhibited the ‘foot ring sandals’, which the petition told Alhapuri Chappals in a deceptive way. These sandals are priced as RS 1 lacquer per double.
