The Delhi High Court has issued a comprehensive interim injunction protecting Britannia Industries from trademark infringement of its popular 'Little Hearts' biscuit brand. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora delivered the ruling on December 23, restraining Shri Swastik Organics and associated parties from manufacturing, using, or selling products that infringe upon Britannia's registered trademark and distinctive product shape.

Court Identifies Triple Identity Infringement

The case presented what the court characterized as a rare instance of "triple identity" infringement. Justice Arora noted that the defendants were not only using Britannia's trademark but also replicating the identical 3D shape of the Little Hearts biscuits for online sales.

The court emphasized that this comprehensive copying across multiple elements strengthened Britannia's case for immediate protection.

Legal Standing and Prima Facie Case

Britannia Industries successfully established its legal standing as the rightful owner of the contested intellectual property. The court recognized the company's position as the prior user, adopter, and registered owner of both the 'Little Hearts' trademark and the distinctive product shape.

Justice Arora stated that Britannia had "made out a prima facie case for the grant of an injunction against defendants." The court expressed satisfaction that without immediate intervention through an ad interim injunction, "irreparable harm/injury would be caused to the plaintiff."

Comprehensive Restraint Order

The interim order encompasses multiple protective measures designed to halt the infringement immediately:

• Manufacturing Ban: Complete prohibition on producing goods bearing Britannia's trademark
• Sales Restriction: Restraint from selling any products with the infringing mark or deceptively similar variations
• Usage Prohibition: Ban on using Britannia's trademark in any commercial capacity
• E-commerce Compliance: Mandatory delisting of infringing products from online platforms

The court specifically directed e-commerce platforms to take down all products displaying the infringing mark or shape, extending the protection beyond direct manufacturers to include digital retail channels.

Case Timeline and Next Steps

The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on May 21, 2026, allowing both parties time to prepare comprehensive arguments for the substantive hearing. This timeline suggests the court views the interim measures as sufficient protection for Britannia's interests while the case proceeds through the legal system.

The ruling demonstrates the Delhi High Court's commitment to protecting established trademark rights, particularly in cases involving clear replication of both visual and functional product elements. The comprehensive nature of the injunction reflects the strength of Britannia's intellectual property claims and the court's recognition of the potential for consumer confusion in the marketplace.

Britannia Industries has received a fresh GST order under Section 74 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, with a significantly higher total demand of ₹48,59,912. The company disclosed this latest development through an intimation to stock exchanges on December 31, 2025, pursuant to SEBI Listing Regulations.

Latest GST Order Details

The new order was issued by the Office of the Assistant Commissioner GST & Central Excise, Bhubaneshwar-II division, Bhubaneshwar. This represents a separate GST matter from the company's earlier Delhi-based order. The company received this order through a system-generated email on December 30, 2025, at 10:11 P.M. IST after it was uploaded on the GST Portal.

Financial Breakdown of New Order

The GST order alleges incorrect availment of Input Tax Credit by the company for the financial year 2019-20. The financial implications of this latest order are substantially higher than the previous Delhi order:

Company's Response and Impact Assessment

Britannia Industries has maintained that there is no material impact on the company's financials, operations, or other activities due to this GST order. The company emphasized that this order is also appealable under the GST law framework.

The company plans to take necessary actions, including exercising the legal remedies available under GST law to address this matter. This indicates the company's consistent approach to challenge such orders through appropriate legal channels.

Multiple GST Proceedings

With this latest disclosure, Britannia Industries now faces GST demands from multiple authorities. The company had previously received a GST order from Delhi authorities with a demand of ₹12,99,284, and now faces this additional demand of ₹48,59,912 from Bhubaneshwar authorities, bringing the total GST demands to over ₹61 lakh across different jurisdictions.

Regulatory Compliance

The disclosure was made in compliance with Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. The intimation follows the requirements outlined in the SEBI Master Circular No. SEBI/HO/CFD/PoD2/CIR/P/0155 dated November 11, 2024, ensuring transparency with stakeholders regarding regulatory developments.