Allowed¶21

The Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry Indian Chamber Buildings v. The South Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries Members Welfare Charitable Society

Madras HC5 Jan 2026A/6418/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court, Commercial Division, order dated 05.01.2026 by Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, J.; A.No.6418 of 2025 in C.S(Comm.Div)DR.No.211850 of 2025; application for leave to sue allowed; proposed passing-off action concerning the mark ‘South Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries’; territorial jurisdiction based on part of cause of action arising within the Court's jurisdiction; interactive website and member confusion due to deceptive similarity urged by counsel; reference to e-mail dated 25.11.2024 from Hijaz Leathers; Registry directed to number the suit.

What did the court decide?

Leave granted to the applicant to sue the respondent before this Court; Registry directed to number the suit if otherwise in order. ¶21

The Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry Indian Chamber Buildings Vs The South Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries Members Welfare Charitable Society — Madras HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

¶1

A.No.6418 of 2025

¶2

in C.S(Comm.Div)DR.No.211850 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

¶3

DATED: 05.01.2026

¶4

CORAM:

¶5

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY

¶6

A.No.6418 of 2025

¶7

in C.S(Comm.Div)DR.No.211850 of 2025

¶8

The Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Indian Chamber Buildings, P.B. No.1208 Esplanade, Chennai – 600 104 Tamil Nadu, India represented by its Authorized Signatory Ms.Bhavani Samarao

¶9

... Applicant

¶10

vs.

¶11

The South India Chamber of Commerce and Industries Members Welfare Charitable Society, Peniel Building, Muttampalam P.O., Kanjikuzhi, Kottayam – 686 004 Kerala, India represented by its President Mr.Wilson Jacob … Respondent

¶12

For Applicant : Ms.Aanchal M.Nichani

¶13

ORDER

¶14

In a proposed suit for alleged passing off by use of the mark ‘South Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries’ by the respondent, the plaintiff seeks leave to sue.

¶15

1/2

¶16

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶17

A.No.6418 of 2025 in C.S(Comm.Div)DR.No.211850 of 2025 SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY,J.

¶18

mmi

¶19

Learned counsel for the plaintiff submits that the website of

¶20

the proposed defendant is an interactive website and that members of the plaintiff were confused between the two entities in view of the deceptive similarity of the marks. Learned counsel refers to an e-mail dated 25.11.2024 from Hijaz Leathers, which is said to be an entity based in Chennai.

¶21

Upon considering the aforesaid, it appears that a part of the cause of action has arisen within the jurisdiction of this Court. Therefore, this application is allowed by granting leave to the applicant to sue the respondent before this Court. As a corollary, the Registry is directed to number the suit, if otherwise in order.

¶22

05.01.2026

¶23

mmi

¶24

A.No.6418 of 2025 in C.S(Comm.Div)DR.No.211850 of 2025

¶25