Jubin Nautiyal seeks personality rights protection In Delhi HC, court raises jurisdiction concerns

Jubin Nautiyal seeks personality rights protection In Delhi HC, court raises jurisdiction concerns

• Jubin Nautiyal requests Delhi HC to protect his personality rights
• Court questions why suit not filed in Uttarakhand, his home state
• Delhi HC to rule on jurisdiction in digital rights case

Did our AI summary help?

Singer Jubin Nautiyal has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality rights, alleging unauthorized commercial use of his name, voice, image and likeness across digital platforms. However, what began as a plea for safeguarding intellectual property quickly turned into a pointed discussion on territorial jurisdiction, with the Court questioning why the singer chose to file the suit in Delhi despite being based in Uttarakhand.

The matter was heard by Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, who raised sharp queries about whether the Delhi High Court had the authority to entertain the plea. The Court observed that Nautiyal resides in Uttarakhand and asked why he had not approached the courts there instead.

“What is the reason for coming here? Court in Uttarakhand can’t call them and pass directions? Are you saying Google is not available in Uttarakhand?” Justice Gedela remarked during the hearing, underscoring concerns about forum selection in cases involving online and cross-border infringements.

Nautiyal, in his petition, claimed that multiple entities were exploiting his persona without license or authorization. The suit alleges infringement of personality and publicity rights, along with violations of registered trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property jointly owned by him. The plea seeks injunctive relief against alleged misuse, particularly in the digital space where content can circulate widely and rapidly.

The Court also noted that some of the defendants named in the suit are based in Romania and the United Arab Emirates. Justice Gedela pointed out that even if foreign parties are involved, jurisdictional requirements must still be satisfied, and courts in Uttarakhand would not be powerless to issue directions if a legal basis exists.

In response, Nautiyal’s counsel argued that certain government bodies, including the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, are headquartered in Delhi. It was further submitted that some of the alleged infringers operate from the national capital, thereby establishing a territorial link to Delhi.

Also Read: Akshay Kumar slams racism against Northeast Indians on Wheel Of Fortune, shares emotional story of his makeup artist Kin

The singer’s legal team also cited previous instances where celebrities approached the Delhi High Court to protect their personality rights. Public figures such as Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor and Karan Johar have sought judicial protection against unauthorised commercial exploitation and AI-driven misuse of their names and likenesses. However, the Court clarified that many such earlier orders were interim in nature and did not automatically establish jurisdictional precedent.

Concluding the hearing, Justice Gedela stated that the Court would pass appropriate orders in due course. The case now raises broader questions about how Indian courts will handle personality rights disputes in an era where digital infringement transcends state and national boundaries, and whether jurisdiction should follow geography or the internet’s borderless logic.