Madras High Court Strikes Out 'Sangeetham House Of Veg' Trademark For Violating Earlier Settlement In Infringment Suit

The Madras High Court has ordered the removal of the “Sangeetham House of Veg” trademark held by a Thiruchendur-based restaurant, after finding that the registration was obtained in violation of an earlier court-recorded settlement that required the outlet to change its name. The settlement had been reached in a trademark infringement suit filed by Chennai-based Sangeetha Veg Restaurant, which said the Thiruchendur restaurant's name and “S” logo were deceptively similar to its own “Sangeetha” brand. Justice N Senthilkumar passed the order on November 6, 2025, allowing the rectification petition filed by the Chennai restaurant. The court held that the Thiruchendur outlet had suppressed key facts while securing its trademark registration and that the mark could not remain on the register in light of the binding settlement. The dispute dates back to early 2024, when the Chennai restaurant discovered that the Thiruchendur outlet was operating as “Sangeetham House of Veg” differing from “Sangeetha” only by the addition of the letter “M,” with “House of Veg” written in much smaller font. Its “S” logo was also alleged to be deceptively similar. After Sangeetha Veg Restaurant filed a suit, the parties entered into a compromise in March 2024, under which the Thiruchendur restaurant agreed to rename itself “Raagam House of Veg.” The court decreed the suit on that basis.But during a visit in June 2024, representatives of the Chennai restaurant found that the Thiruchendur outlet was still using the disputed name. They also discovered that the outlet had already secured trademark registrations for “Sangeetham House of Veg” and the “S” logo applications that had been filed in April 2023 and approved in May 2024. This prompted the rectification plea. The Thiruchendur outlet argued that it had since stopped using the disputed name and that the Trade Marks Registry had independently examined and approved its application, proving there was no deceptive similarity. The court rejected these claims and said the restaurant could not press ahead with its trademark application after agreeing to change its name, especially without disclosing the compromise and the court's decree. This suppression, the judge held, made the registration liable for removal. The court then directed the Registrar of Trade Marks to delete the “Sangeetham House of Veg” trademark from the register..Case Title: Sangeetha Caterers and Consultants LLP v. M/s. Sangeetham House of VegCitation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 467Case Number: OP (TM) No.23 of 2025For Petitioner: Advocate P Rakesh KumarFor Respondents: Advocate Deenathayalan and Advocates Jayaharan for Ramalingam & Associates Click Here To Read/Download Order

Madras High Court Strikes Out 'Sangeetham House Of Veg' Trademark For Violating Earlier Settlement In Infringment Suit

Ayushi Shukla

Tags