Punjab & Haryana High Court dismisses PIL challenging commercial use of Shivling as a trademark, stating the petitioner is being overly sensitive about religious sentiments.
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Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday declined to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against the commercial use of the Hindu religious symbol Shivling as a trademark by a private company.
The petition, filed by Meghna Khullar, alleged that the sacred symbol was being misused on medicinal and consumer products, hurting religious sentiments. However, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry remarked that the petitioner was being overly sensitive.
“Why are you being so sensitive about these things? I never noticed it. For years, it is coming… why this sudden surge of religious sentiments. You are being over sensitive,”
Justice Nagu noted during the hearing.
The Court clarified that disputes related to trademarks or copyrights have designated forums.
“These brands have their logos, those are protected under certain laws… Your remedy lies elsewhere,”
the Bench added, emphasizing that proper legal channels exist to address such grievances.
Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain informed the Court that the Central government authorities had already asked the petitioner to provide information regarding the alleged commercial use of sacred symbols, but the same had not been furnished.
Observing that the complaint is being looked into by the authorities, the Court said,
“Therefore, this Court would not like to come in the way of said process of consideration… In view of the above, the present petition stands disposed of.”
The Bench also granted the petitioner liberty to approach the Court again “in case the grievance is not redressed.”
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