PIL In Supreme Court Against Trademark Registration Of ‘Operation Sindoor’

In a PIL filed in the Supreme Court, it is demanded that the trademark applications from various parties for ‘Operation Sindoor’ should be banned. “Operation Sindoor” is the name of the operation where the Indian Army attacked nine bases in Pakistation after the Pahalgam attack. 26 civilians were brutally killed in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22nd of April. 

The said petition has been filled by Dev Ashish Dubey against 4 applicants, who applied for Application TM-1 under Class 41 (education and entertainment sector) for   registration of Trademark 'Operation Sindoor'.

What Does the Writ Petition Say:-

• The plea urged that the name “Operation Sindoor” must not be allowed to be misused for commercial exploitation by such private respondents who only wish to take advantage of the emotions of the public for their own commercial profits.
• According to the petition filed, name “Operation Sindoor” symbolises the sacrifice by many widows of the martyred soldiers who lost their lives fighting against terrorism and thereby involving the emotions of the people of the country, especially those who made sacrifices for the country, not only the soldiers but their family members also, as well as the unarmed innocent civilians who were shot down in the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22nd. 
• "The Operation Sindoor involves the emotions of not only of the country man but also of those who have sacrificed their life for the country and in the instant killing of innocent civilians in Pahalgam Terror Attack on 22.04.2025 have sparked nationwide outrage," the petition read.
• Further, the petition put forth that, "the said operation under the Operation Sindoor should not be allowed to be misused for commercial exploitation by the Respondent No. 10 to 14 who only want to take an advantage of the public emotion for their own commercial gain."
• "Needless to say that even otherwise the registration of the said name under the name and style Operation Sindoor cannot be allowed under Section 9 of the Trademark Act, 1999," the petition concluded.
• After the petition was filed, and huge backlash from the public, Reliance Industries has withdrawn the application for trademark registration, the Company also issued an explanation that the application was submitted by a junior employee outside the knowledge of the seniors of the Company. 

In conclusion the petition mainly pointed out the fact that on one hand when Operation Sindoor is jointly carried out by Indian forces with our soldiers at the fore front risking their lives fearlessly for the motherland, it should be taken into account that the public emotion should not be taken advantage of for commercial gain. 

The Indian Armed Forces launched the Operation Sindoor on 7th May in the early hours targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan and the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

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