Plea Filed in Supreme Court Seeks Ban on Trademark Registration of ‘Operation Sindoor,’ Citing Commercial Exploitation Concerns

(Syed Ali Taher Abedi)

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking to bar the trademark registration of “Operation Sindoor,” the name designated for India’s military operations targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. The petition argues that allowing the registration of this term as a trademark would amount to commercial exploitation of a matter deeply connected to national security and public sentiment.

The writ petition has been filed by petitioner Dev Ashish Dubey against four applicants who sought trademark registration under Application TM-1, categorized under Class 41, which includes education and entertainment services. The applicants named in the plea include:

1. Mukesh Chetram Agarwal (Mumbai)
2. Group Captain Kamal Singh Obreh (Retd.) (Jammu & Kashmir)
3. Alok Kothari (Delhi)
4. Jayraj T (Kerala)
5. Uttam (Gujarat)

These applications were submitted to the respective Trademark Registries located in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Ahmedabad.

The petition highlights concern regarding the potential misuse of public sentiment tied to the ongoing conflict and the Indian military’s efforts in “Operation Sindoor.” The plea contends that the operation is associated with the emotions of not only Indian citizens but also those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. The petition references the tragic Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians, sparking nationwide outrage.

Furthermore, the plea argues that under Section 9 of the Trademark Act, 1999, the trademark registration of “Operation Sindoor” should not be permitted, as it would lead to undue commercialization of a term connected to India’s military action. The petitioner asserts that the applicants seek to exploit public emotions for their own commercial benefit, which should not be allowed.

Adding to the controversy, the petition notes that Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries also filed a trademark application for “Operation Sindoor” on May 7, 2025. This move led to public outcry, prompting Reliance Industries to withdraw its application. An official statement issued by the company clarified that the trademark request had been mistakenly filed by a junior employee without prior approval from the firm’s leadership.

The petitioner has requested the Supreme Court to grant the following reliefs:

1. Issuance of a writ of mandamus, directing Respondents No. 6 to 9 to remove all trademark applications filed by Respondents No. 10 to 14 under the name “Operation Sindoor.”
2. Issuance of a writ of mandamus, directing Trademark Registries to ensure that “Operation Sindoor” is not granted trademark protection, thereby preventing its commercial exploitation.

The petition has been filed with the assistance of Advocate-on-Record (AOR) Om Prakash Parihar and Advocate Dushyant Tiwari.

This legal challenge raises crucial questions about the intersection of intellectual property law and national interests, particularly regarding the ethical implications of trademarking military operations. The Supreme Court’s decision on the matter is expected to set a precedent for similar cases in the future.