Holding

A court may exercise jurisdiction under Section 62(2) of the Copyright Act only for copyright causes of action and cannot rely on it to obtain jurisdiction over trademark claims, which must satisfy the territorial requirements of CPC Section 20 and the Trade Marks Act.

Summary

The Supreme Court considered two appeals arising from suits alleging infringement of copyright and trade‑mark rights – one by Dhodha House (sweet‑meats) filed in the Ghaziabad district court and another by Patel Field Marshal (diesel engines) filed in the Delhi High Court. Both lower courts had held they lacked territorial jurisdiction, but the High Courts had relied on Section 62(2) of the Copyright Act, 1957 to claim jurisdiction despite the primary cause of action being under the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958. The Court examined the meaning of "carries on business" and "personally works for gain" under CPC Section 20 and held that Section 62(2) creates an additional forum only for copyright actions and cannot be used to confer jurisdiction over trademark claims. Advertisements in the Trade Marks Journal or the filing of a trademark application do not create jurisdiction, and a court must have territorial jurisdiction for each cause of action in a composite suit. Consequently, the appeal by Dhodha House was dismissed and the appeal by Patel Field Marshal was allowed, with each party bearing its own costs.

Issues considered

Can Section 62(2) of the Copyright Act, 1957 be invoked to confer jurisdiction on a court for a suit that also includes trademark infringement claims under the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958?
Does the publication of an advertisement in the Trade Marks Journal or the filing of a trademark application create territorial jurisdiction under the Trade Marks Act?
What is the proper interpretation of "carries on business" and "personally works for gain" for determining jurisdiction under CPC Section 20?
Can a composite suit involving both copyright and trademark causes of action be entertained in a court lacking jurisdiction for the trademark cause of action?

Legislation cited

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. 20, s. 9, s. Order II Rule 3, s. Order VII Rule 10
Copyright Act, 1957s. 62(2)
Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958s. 105, s. 45(2)(m)

Subjects

jurisdictioncopyrighttrademarksection 62civil procedurecomposite suitterritorial jurisdictioncarries on businesspassing off

Judgment

M/S. DHODHA HOUSE A
v.
S.K. MAINGI

DECEMBER 15, 2005

[B.P. SINGH AND S.B. SINHA, JJ .] B

Copyright Act, 1957/Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958:

Section 62(2)/Section 45(2)(m)-Territorial jurisdiction of court-Suit
for infringement of copyright and trade marks-Provisions of sub-section (2) C
of Section 62 of 1957 Act claimed to be applicable for invoking jurisdiction
of Court-The Court in which suit was filed having no jurisdiction in terms
of 1958 Act-Held, primary ground upon which jurisdiction of court was
invoked was violation of 1958 Act, but in relation thereto provision of sub-
section (2) of Section 62 of 1957 Act could not be invoked-For registration D
of trade mark an application has to be filed-An advertisement in a journal
or newspaper by itself would not confer any jurisdiction on a court if it
otherwise did not have any-Code of Civil Procedure, 1908-Sections 9 and
20, Order /I Rule 3.

Words and Phrases:
E
Expressions "carries on business" and "personally works for gain"
occurring in Section 62(2) of Copyright Act, 1957-Connotation of

Appellant in Civil Appeal No. 6298of1997 was carrying on business
of sweetmeats at Ghaziabad. It claimed to have trade mark registration as
"Dhodha House" under Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 as also F
copyright registered under the Copyright Act, 1957. It filed a suit in the civil
court, Ghaziabad against the respondent, who was carrying on similar business
at Faridkot, alleging infringement of its copyright, trademarks and common
law rights as regards its art work/label/trade marks and wrapper. The trial
court granted an ad interim injunction. But, the High Court held that the G
trial court had no territorial jurisdiction to try the suit Aggrieved, the plaintiff
filed the appeal.

Respondent in Civil Appeal No. 16of1999 was carrying on business in
diesel engines at Rajkot in the State of Gujarat. It claimed to have registered

751 H
752 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2005] SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A a trade mark 'Field Marshal'; as also its label 'Field Marshal' under the
Copyright Act, 1957. It filed a suit in the Delhi High Court against the
defendant-appellants, who were also carrying on a similar business in the
same city of Rajkot, on the ground that the goods manufactured by the
defendants were being sold in Delhi with plaintifrs trade mark; that the
B defendants proposed to start their business in the trading style of 'Field
Marshal' for the goods of same ki:id and description wherefor caution notice
had been issued. It was stated that Trade Marks Journals published by Tade
Marks Registry indicated in respect of applications of the defendants for
registration of their trademarks as 'Field Marshal' including the Union
Territory of Delhi. On the basis of these assertions, it was stated that the
C Delhi High Court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit: An application for ad
interim injunction was filed, which was rejected by the Single Judge holding,
inter alia, that prima facie the plaintiff had failed to show that the Delhi High
Court had territorial jurisdiction. However, the Division Bench allowed the
intra-court appeal. Aggrieved, the defendant filed the appeal.

D On the question: whether a suit would be maintainable in a court only
because it has the jurisdiction to entertain the same in terms of the Copyright
Act, 1957, although causes of action in terms of both the Copyright Act, .19?7
and the Trademarks Act, 1958 may be different,

E Dismissing Civil Appeal No. 6248/97 and allowing Civil Appeal No. 16/
99, the Court

HELD: 1.1. For the purpose of invoking the jurisdiction of a court only
because two causes of action joined in terms of the provisions of the Code of
Civil Procedure, 1908, the same would not mean that thereby the jurisdiction
F can be conferred upon a court which had jurisdiction to try only the suit in
respect of one cause of action and not the other. Recourse to the additional
forum, however, in a given case, may be taken if both the causes of action
arise within the jurisdiction of the court which otherwise had the necessary
jurisdiction to decide all the issues. Order II Rule 3 of the Code provides that
the plaintiff may unite in the same suit several causes of action against the
G same defendant, or the same defendants jointly. However, by reason of
application of Order II Rule 3 of the Code ipso facto would not confer
jurisdiction upon a court which had none so as to enable it to consider
infringement of trade mark .under the 1957 Act as also the 1958 Act.
(761-G-H; 762-A; 770-E-FJ

H 1.2. Determination of territorial jurisdiction of a civil court is governed
DHODHA HOUSE v. S.K. MA!NGI 753

by the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. For the purposes of A
the present appeals, Section 20 of the Code is relevant. In order to ascertain,
the jurisdiction of the District Court to determine a lis under the Copyright
Act, 1957 as also the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 the suit must
be instituted where the whole or a part of cause of action arises. Sub-section
(2) of Section 62 of the 1957 Act further provides for an additional forum. B
But no such additional forum has been created in terms of the provisions of
the 1958 Act. Sub-section (2) of Section 62 of the 1957 Act provides for a
non-obstante clause conferring jurisdiction upon the district court within the
local limits of whose jurisdiction, at the time of the institution of the suit or
other proceeding, the person instituting the suit or other proceedings, has
been residing only if a cause of action arises under that Act. It does not confer C
jurisdiction upon a district court where the plaintiff resides, if a cause of
action arises under the 1958 Act. In the event, the averments in the plaint
disclose a cause of action under the Copyright Act, indisputably, the same
would survive but if the cause of action disclosed is confined only to
infringement of Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, or of passing off an action,
the suit would not be maintainable. (769-H; 760-B; F-G; 761-E-F; 766-G( D
1.3. It may be that in a given case if a label, as provided in sub-section
(2)(m) of Section 45 of the Trade Marks Act is registered, a violation thereof
may give rise to cause of action under the said Act; but only because in a
given case, the activities on the part of the defendant may give rise to a cause E
of action both under the 1958 Act as also under the 1957 Act, the same would
not mean, irrespective of the nature of violation, that the plaintiff would be
entitled to invoke the jurisdiction of the court in terms of sub-section (2) of
Section 62 of the 1957 Act. [770-C-D]

Morgan Stanley Mutual Fund v. Kartick Das, p 9941 4 SCC 225, relied p
on.

1.4. The expression 'carries on business' and the expression 'personally
works for gain' connote two different meanings. For the purpose of carrying
on business only presence of a man at a place is not necessary. Such business
may be carried at a place through an agent or a manager or through a servant G
The owner may not even visit that place. The phrase 'carries on business" at
a certain place would, therefore, mean having an interest in a business at
that place, a voice in what is done, a share in the gain or loss and some control
thereover. Ordinarily, the residence of a company would be where its
registered office is. A corporation in view of Explanation appended to Section H
754 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2005] SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A 20 of the Code would be deemed to be carrying on business inter a/ia at a
place where it has a subordinate office. Only because, its goods are being
sold at a place would thus evidently not mean that it carries a business at that
place. (768-E-F; 769-B-C)

Mu/la on the Code of Civil Procedure (Act V of 1908) - Fifteenth Edition
B - Volume I, Pages 246-247, referred to.
2.1. In "Dhodha House" case (CA No. 6298/97) admittedly, the plaintiff
neither resided at Ghaziabad nor carried on any business at the place of
residence of the respondent. The High Court has positively arrived at a finding
C that the infringement complained of primarily is that of the Trade and
Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 and not under Copyright Act. (768-D; 769-C)

Morgan Stanley Mutual Fund v. Kartick Das, (1994) 4 SCC 225,
referred to.

D 2.2. In "Patel Field Marshal" case (CA No. 16/99) the registered office
of the plaintiff firm was at Rajkot. The Delhi High Court could not have
invoked its jurisdiction in terms of the 1957 Act. The primary ground upon
which the jurisdiction of the original side of the High Court was invoked was
the violation of the 1958 Act, but in relation thereto, the provisions of sub-
section (2) of Section 62 of the 1957 Act could not be invoked. The plaintiff
E was not a resident of Delhi. It has not been able to establish that it carries on
any business at Delhi. The question as to whether the defendant had been
selling its produce in Delhi or not is wholly irrelevant. It is possible that the
goods manufactured by the plaintiff are available in the market of Delhi or
they are sold in Delhi but that by itself would not mean that the plaintiff carries
F on any business in Delhi. (768-D-E; 769-F-G)

2.3. It is not in dispute that the application for registration of the trade
mark was to be filed either at Bombay or at Ahmedabad. The objections thereto
by the plaintiff were also required to be filed at the said places. The jurisdiction
of the Delhi Court could not have been invoked only on the ground that
G advertisement in respect thereof was published in the Trade Marks Journal.
The advertisement appearing in a journal or newspapers by itself would not
confer any jurisdiction on the court, if it otherwise did not have any. Section
62 of the 1957 Act, therefore, will have no application. The plaintiff has no
branch office at Delhi. Its manufacturing facilities are not available at Delhi.
Both its trade mark and copyright are also not registered at Delhi. Besides,
H · a cause of action will arise only when a registered trade mark is used and
DHODHA HOUSE v. S.K. MAINGI 755

not when an application is filed for registration of the trade mark. A
[769-E; 770-A-B; 764-DI

Jawahar Engineering Company and Others, Ghaziabad v. Mis Jawahar
Engineers Pvt. Ltd., Sri Rampur, Dist. Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, (1983) PTC
207, held inapplicable.
B
2.4. For the purpose of registration of a trade mark, an application must
be filed in the branch office of the Registrar of Trade Marks. Whereas in
"Dhodha House" case no such application has been filed, admittedly in "Patel
Field Marshal" case, the Delhi office has no jurisdiction as parties are
residents of Rajkot and an application was filed by the appellant for
registration of its trade mark at Bombay. If an objection is to be filed, the C
same has to be filed at Bombay. [763-E)

Oil and Natural Ga3 Commission v. Utpal Kumar Basu and Ors., (19941
4 sec 711, relied on.

Exphar SA and Anr. v. Eupharma Laboratories Ltd. and Anr., [(2004] 3 D
sec 688, distin"guished.
Premier Distilleries Pvt. Ltd. v. Shashi Distilleries, (2001) PTC 907,
approved.

Gold Seal Engineering Product Pvt. Ltd. & Ors. v. Hindusthan E
Manufacturers and Ors., AIR (1992) (Bombay) 144, referred to.

A decision is an authority what it decides and not what can logically be
deduced therefrom. (765-D)

Bharat Forge Co. Ltd. v. Utam Manohar Nakate, (2005) 2 SCC 489; F
MP. Gopalakrishnan Nair and Anr. v. State. of Kera/a and Ors., JT (2005) 4
SC 436 and Haryana State Coop. Land Development Bank v. Nee/am, (20051
5 sec 91, referred to.

3. It is trite law that a juogment and order passed by the court having
no territorial jurisdiction would be nullity. A judgment or order passed by a G
court lacking territorial jurisdiction, thus, would be coram nonjudice. Thus,
if a district court, where the plaintiff resides but where no cause of action
arose otherwise, adjudicates a matter relating to infringement of trademark
under the 1958 Act, its judgment would be a nullity. [762-B; El

Kiran Singh and Ors. v. Chaman Paswan and Ors., AIR (1954) SC 34, H
756 SUPRE~E COURT REPORTS [2005] SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A relied on.
Jawahar Engineering Company and Ors, Ghaziabad v. Mis. Jawahar
· Engineers Pvt. Ltd, Sri Rampur, Dist. Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, (1983) PTC
207, held inapplicable.

B CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 6248of1997.

From the Judgment and Order dated 5.5.97 of the Allahabad High Court
in First Appeal from Order No. 401 of 1992.

WITH
c
C.A. No. 16of1999.

S.K. Bansal, S. Rajan, Ajay Amitabh and Mrs. Arnita Gupta for the
Appellant in C.A.No. 6248/97.

D Shailen Bhatia, Balraj Dewan and Rishi Kesh for the Appellant in C.A.
No. 16/99.

Laxman Singh and Ranbir Singh Yadav (NP) for the Respondent 'in C.A.
No. 6248/97.

E R.K. Aggarwal and Tarun Johri for the Respondent in C.A. N~. 16/99.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

S.B. SINHA, J. Extent of jurisdiction of a civil court to determine a Iis
as regard infringement of the provision of the Copyright Act, 1957 (for short
F "the 1957 Act") and the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 (for short
"the 1958 Act") is in question in these appeals.

We would notice the fact of the matters separately.

Civil Appeal No. 6248 of 1997:
G
The Appellant herein filed a suit against the Respondent to protect his
copyright, trade marks and common law rights as regard his art work/label/
trade mark and wrapper contained in Annexure A to the memo of appeal
which the Respondent had allegedly infringed by using the impugned trade
mark/art work/label/wrapper contained in Annexure B thereto.
H
DHODHA HOUSE v. S.K. MAINGI [SINHA, J.) 757
According to the Appellant, the said art work/ label/ trade mark/ wrapper A
infringes the Appellant's trade mark registration 'Dhodha House' under
Registration No. 277714-B in class 30 under the 1958 Act, as also copyright
registered under the 1957 Act being registration No. A-5117 and A-5330 of
1970. The Appellant also claims it to be a prior user of the said trade mark
and name and enjoys goodwill as well as reputation in respect thereof since B
1960.

It is not in dispute that the Appellant carries on business of sweet
meats in the d.istrict of Ghaziabad whereas. the Respondent carries on the
similar business in the name and style of Mis. V.R.K. Todha Sweet House at
Kotkapura in the district of Faridkot. The Appellant herein filed a suit before C
the District Judge, Ghaziabad wherein it also prayed for an order of injunction.
The learned I st Addi. District Judge, Ghaziabad by an order dated 17.1.1992
passed an order of injunction against the Respondent in the following terms:

"Application 5-C is allowed to the extent that the OP/defendants, their
servants, dealers, stockists, distributors, assigns, representatives and D
agents, are restrained during the pendency of the suit, from infringing
the plaintiffs copyright existing in the art work/ label and wrapper,
duly registered at Nos. A-5117170 and A-5330170 under the Indian
Copyright Act, 1957 by using these in the art work involved in
defendant's labels, and wrappers entitled Manni's Todha Sweet or any
other labels and wrappers, confusingly similar to the aforementioned E
art work, label and wrapper of the plaintiff. They are further restrained
from passing off their goods and business as and for the business
and goods of the plaintiff under the impugned trade mark Todha with
prefix Maingi's <_>r its labels and wrapper which are identical with
deceptively similar to the trade mark Dhodha with prefix Royal and its F
labels and wrappers being used by the plaintiff in his distinctive get-
up, make-up, colour scheme, combination and manner of writing."

The Respondent preferred an appeal thereagainst before the High Court
of Judicature at Allahabad which was marked as First Appeal From Order No.
401of1992. G
By an order dated 5.5.1997, the High Court inter alia held that the Civil
Court had no territorial jurisdiction to try the suit. The High Court was further
of the opinion that 'Dodha' is a name of a variety of sweet and it is not a
special product which is manufactured by the plaintiff alone.
H
758 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2005] SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A The Appellant is, thus, before us.

Civil Appeal No. 16 of 1999 :

The defendant is the Appellant herein. Both the plaintiff and Appellants
carry on business in diesel engines at Rajkot in the State of Gujarat. A suit
B on the original side of the Delhi High Court was filed inter alia for perpetual
injunction restraining infringement of trade mark, copyright, trading style,
passing off and for rendition of accounts. It has b~en averred in the plaint
that the plaintiff has registered a trade mark 'Field Marshal'. Its label 'Field
Marshal' is said to be registered also under the Copyright Act, 1957 and it
C had been printing/ publishing the said purported artistic work titled 'Field
· Marshal' in all its trade literatur~s, pamphlets, stickers, calendars, diaries, etc.
as also on the goods manufl)ctured. According to .the plaintiff, the First
Defendant herein has been· registered under the Companies Act and it
proposed to start a business in the trading style of 'Field Marshal' for the
business of the goods of same kind and description wherefor caution notice
D had been issued by it. It also sent letter to the Registrar of Companies
objecting to the incorporation of the said company containing the word 'Field
Marshal' or identical or deceptively similar thereto. It is alleged that goods
manufactured by the Appellants with the plaintiffs trade marks are being sold
in Delhi.

E The alleged cause of action for filing the said suit has been averred in
paragraph 30 which reads as under:

"That the goods of the parties bearing the impugned trade marks are
also sold in the Union Territory of DelhL The Trade Marks Journals
No. 823 dt. 16.9.83 and No. 876 dt. 1.12.85 and Journal No. 933 dt.
F I6.4.1988 were published in India by.' the Trade Marks Registry in
respect of applications of the defendants for registration of the
impugned trade marks, including the Union Territory of Delhi. Therefore,
this Hon'ble Court has jurisdiction to entertain and try the present
suit. Moreover, the jurisdiction of this Hon'ble Court is also attracted
G in view of Section 62(2) of the Copyright Act."

The value of the suit for the purposes of court fee and jurisdiction was
fixed at Rs. 200/- e!lch in relation to reliefs (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v).

An application for injunction was filed by the First Respondent and by
H an order dated 28th September, 1995, the said application was rejected inter
DHODHA HOUSEv. S.K. MAINGI [SINHA, J.] 759

a/ia on the ground that the plaintiff has failed to prima facie show that the A
Delhi High Court had the territorial as also the pecuniary jurisdiction in
relation thereto. The Plaintiff-Respondent No. I preferred an intra-court appeal
before the Division Bench of the said Court which was marked as FAO (OS)
270 of 1995. By reason of the impugned judgment dated 10th March, 1998,
the said appeal was allow~.d.
B
Before the Division Bench of the High Court, three contentions as
regard the jurisdiction of the Delhi High Court were raised; firstly, under
Section 62 of the Copyright Act, 1957, secondly, in view of the fact that the
defendants had sought for registration of trade mark at Delhi, and thirdly, the
defendants are selling goods under the impugned trade mark at Delhi and, C
thus, plaintiffs right thereover had been violated at Delhi.

The Division Bench negatived the contention raised on behalf of the
Appellants herein that as both the parties are resident of and working for gain
at Rajkot and no sale having been effected by them within the territorial
jurisdiction of the court, the Delhi High Court had no territorial jurisdiction D
to entertain the suit.

On the first contention, the Division Bench was of the opinion that a
composite suit based on fofringement of trade mark, copyright, passing off
and for rendition of accounts of profits as also injunction having been filed,
the Delhi High Court had the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the suit. E
On the second contention, the Division Bench relying on or on the
basis of its earlier decision in Jawahar Engineering Co. & Ors. v. Mis.
Jawahar Engineering Pvt. Ltd, AIR (1984) Delhi 166 came to the opinion that
a plaintiff can even seek a restraint order against the threat that is still to
materialize once it comes to learn that the defendants had applied for F
registration of trade marks at Delhi wherefor they can pray for injunction to
prevent any sale of the infringing product in Delhi.

The Bench did not go into the third question.

The two judgments before us, thus, have taken contrary views. G

Cause of action, as is well-settled, is a bundle of facts which are
necessary to be proved in a given case. Cause of action, it is trite, if arises
within the jurisdiction of the court concerned empowers the court to entertain
the matter. Determination of territorial jurisdiction of a civil court is governed H
760 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2005) SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A by the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure (for short, 'the Code').
Section 16 of the Code provides for institution of the suits where subject-
matter of the suit is situate. Section 17 of the Code refers to the suits for
immovable property within jurisdiction of different courts. Section 18 refers
to place of institution of a suit where local limits of jurisdiction of courts are
B uncertain; whereas Section 19 of the Code contemplates suits for compensation
for wrongs to person or movables, Section 20 of the Code, wherewith we are
concerned in this case, provides that the suits which do not come within the
purview of Sections 16 to 19 of the Code are to be instituted where the
defendants reside or cause of action arises in the following terms :

c "20. Other suits to be instituted where defendants reside or cause
of action arises.__..:.Subject to the limitations aforesaid, every suit shall
be instituted in a Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction-

(a) the defendant, or each of the defendants where there are more
than one, at the time of the commencement of the suit, actually
and voluntarily resides, or carries on business, or personally
D
works for gain; or
(b) any of the defendants, where there are more than one, at the time
of the commencement of the suit, actually and voluntarily resides,
or carries on business, or personally works for gain, provided
that in such case either the leave of the Court is given, or the
E
defendants who do not reside, or carry or business, or personally
work for gain, as aforesaid, acquiesce in such institution ; or

(c) the cause of action, wholly or in part, arises.

· [Explanation].-A corporation shall be deemed to carry on business
F at its sole or principal office in [India] or, in respect of any cause of
action arising at any place where it has also a subordinate office, at
such place."

The jurisdiction of the District Court to determine a lis under the 1957
Act as also the 195 8 Act must, thus, be instituted where the whole or a part
G of cause of action arises. Sub-section (2) of Section 62 of the 1957 Act
provides for an additional forum therefor in the following terms :

"(2) For the purpose of sub-section (I), a "district court having
jurisdiction" shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of
Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), or any other law for the time being
H in force, include a district court within the local limits of whose
DHODHA HOUSE v. S.K. MAINGI [SINHA. J.] 761

jurisdiction, at the time of the institution of the suit or other proceeding, A
the person instituting the suit or other proceeding or, where there are
more than one such persons, any of them actually and voluntarily
resides or carries on business or personally works for gain."

Admittedly, no such additional forum had been created in terms of the
provisions of the 1958 Act. B
The objects and reasons for engrafting the said provision show that the

- same was done to enable the authors to file a suit for violation of the 1957
Act at the place where they reside. Submission made at the 8ar, however, is
that there may be cases which give a composite cause of action for initiating
action both under the 1957 Act as also under the 1958 Act. Reliance, in this c
behalf, has been placed on a definition of "mark" as contained in Section 2U)
of the 1958 Act, to urge that artistic work within the meaning of the 1957 Act
is also a 'mark' within the meaning thereof and, thus, different causes of
action arising under both the Acts can be combined. Reference, furthermore,
has been made to Section I 05 of the 1958 Act to show that reclassification D
in respect of existing registration is permissible.

We are not concerned in this case with the maintainability ofa composite
suit both under the 1957 Act and the 1958 Act. Indisputably, if such a
situation arises, the same would be permissible; but the same may not be
relevant for the purpose of determining the question of a forum where such E
suit can be instituted. Sub-section (2) of Section 62 of the 1957 Act provides
for a non-obstante clause conferring jurisdiction upon the district court within
the local limits of whose jurisdiction, at the time of the institution of the suit
or other proceeding, the persons instituting the suit or other proceedings,
have been residing. In terms of sub-section (1) of Section 62, suit can be
instituted and the proceedings can be initiated in respect of mattes arising
F
under the said chapter for infringement of the copyright in any work or the
infringement of any other right conferred thereunder. It does not confer
jurisdiction upon a district court where the plaintiff resides,. if a cause of
action arises under the 1958 Act.
G
Order II Rule 3 of the Code provides that the plaintiff may unite in the
same suit several causes of action against the same defendant, or the same
defendants jointly. The said order contemplates uniting of several causes of
action in the same suit. By necessary implication, a cause of action for
-I infringement of Copyright and a cause of action for infringement of Trade
Mark or a cause of action of passing off would be different. Even if one cause H
762 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2005) SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A of action has no nexus with another, indisputably Order II Rule 3 may apply.
However, by reason of application of Order II Rule 3 of the Code ipso facto
would not confer jurisdiction upon a court which had none so as to enable
it to consider infringement of trade mark under the 1957 Act as also the 1958
Act.

B It is trite law that a judgment and order passed by the court having no.
territorial jurisdiction would be nullity.

In Kiron Singh and Ors. v. Chaman Paswan and Ors., AIR (1954) SC
340, this Court observed :

c " .. .It is a fundamental principle well-established that a decree passed
by a court without jurisdiction is a nullity, and that its invalidity could
be set up whenever and wherever it is sought to be enforced or relied
upon, even at the stage of execution and even in collateral proceedings.
A defect of jurisdiction, whether it is pecuniary or territorial, or whether
it is in respect of the subject-matter of the action, strikes at the very
.D
authority of the court to pass any decree, and such a defect cannot
be cured even by consent of parties

A judgment or order passed by a court lacking territorial jurisdiction,
thus, would be coram non judice. Thus, if a district court, where the plaintiff
E resides but where no cause of action arose otherwise, adjudicates a matter
relating to infringement of trade mark under the 1958 Act, its judgment would
be a nullity.

Mr. S.K. Bansal, the learned counsel appearing for the Appellants,
however, placed strong reliance on a decision of the Delhi High Court in
F Mis. Jawahar Engineering Compan;: and Others, Ghaziabad v. Mis Jawahar
Engineers Pvt. ltd, Sri Rampur, Dist. Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, (1983) PTC
207, wherein the question involved for determination was as to whether the
plaint filed therein should be returned in terms of Order VII Rule I 0 of the
Code. In that c(lse, the plaintiff had a registered trade mark 'Javahar' in
G respect of diesel oil engines whereas the defendant had applied for registration
of the trade mark 'Jawahar' in respect of diesel oil engines for the States of
Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Rajasthan .and the Union Territories of
Delhi and Chandigarh.

Although it was held that as diesel engines were not sold in Delhi, no
H cause of action arose within the jurisdiction of Delhi High Court; nor the
DHODHA HOUSE v. S.K. MAINO! [SINHA, J.] 763

advertisement published in a journal "Parwez" published from Ludhiana would A
confer such jurisdiction. But it was opined that having regard to the fact that
an advertisement had appeared in the Trade Marks Journal as regard
application for registration of the trade mark of the defendant therein, the
Delhi High Court would have jurisdiction in the matter.

A Letters Patent Appeal was preferred thereagainst, wherein the Division B
Bench of ttie High Court held :

" ... Section 20 of the Code of Civil Procedure shows that a suit like
the present can be filed wherever the cause of action wholly or partly
arises. The plaintiff has prayed for an injunction regarding a threatened
breach of a registered trade mark. The learned single Judge held that C
the Delhi Court does not have jurisdiction on the ground of any sale
having been made in Delhi, but does have jurisdiction on account of
the advertisement having appeared in the Trade Marks Journal. The
real point which gives the Court jurisdiction is not the place where the
advertisement has appeared, but the fact that the trade mark is sought D
for sale in Delhi amongst other places. Furthermore, when an injunction
is sought, it is not necessary that the threat should have become a
reality before the injunction and it can even be sought for a threat that
is still to materialize."

The said decision has no application in the instant case for more than E
one reason. For the purpose of registration of a trade mark, an application
must be filed in the branch office of the Registrar of Trade Marks. It is not
in dispute that under Section 5(3) of the 1958 Act, the Central Government
has issued a notification in the official gazette defining the territorial limits
within which an office of the Trade Marks Registry may exercise its functions. F
The office of the Trade Marks Registry at New Delhi exercises jurisdiction
over the States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab,
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh and
National Capital Territory of Delhi. Whereas in Mis. Dhodha House v. S.K.
Maingi, no such application has been filed, admittedly in Mis Patel Field
Marshal Industries & Ors. v. Mis. P.M. Diesels Ltd, the Delhi office has no G
jurisdiction as parties are residents of Rajkot and an application was filed by
the Appellant for registration of its trade mark at Bombay. If an objection is
to be filed, the same has to be filed at Bombay. An advertisement by itself
in a journal or a paper would not confer jurisdiction upon a court, as would
be evident from the following observations of this Court in Oil and Natural
H
764 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2005] SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A Gas Commission v. Utpal Kumar Basu and Ors., [1994] 4 SCC 71 I:

" ... Therefore, broadly speaking, NICCO claims that a part of the cause
of action arose within the jurisdiction of ,the Calcutta High Court
because it became aware of the advertisement in Calcutta, it submitted
its bid or tender from Calcutta and made representations demanding
B justice from Calcutta on learning about the rejection of its offer. The
advertisement itself mentioned that the tenders should be submitted
to EIL at New Delhi; that those would be scrutinised at New Delhi and
that a final decision whether or not to award the contract to the
tenderer would be taken at New Delhi. Of course, the execution of the
C contract work was to be carried out at Hazira in Gujarat. Therefore,
merely because it read the advertisement at Calcutta and submitted
the offer from Calcutta and made representations from Calcutta would
not, in our opinion, constitute facts forming an integral part of the
cause of action. So also the mere fact that it sent fax messages from
Calcutta and received a reply thereto at Calcutta would not constitute
D an integral part of the cause of action ..... "

A cause of action will arise only when a registered trade mark is used
and not when an application is filed for registration of the trade mark, In a
given case, an application for grant ofregistration certificate may or may not
be allowed. The person in whose favour, a registration certificate has already
E been granted indisputably will have an opportunity to oppose the same by
filing an application before the Registrar, who has the requisite jurisdiction to
determine the said question. In other words, a suit may lie where an infringement
of trade mark or copyright takes place but a cause of action for filing the suit
would not arise within the jurisdiction of the court only because an
p advertisement has been issued in the Trade Marks Journal or any other
journal, notifying the factum of filing of such an application.

Strong reliance has also been placed on a recent decision of this Court
in Exphar SA and Anr. v. Eupharma Laboratories Ltd and Anr., [2004] 3 SCC
688, wherein it was held :
G
"It is, therefore, clear that the object and reason for the introduction
of sub-section (2) of Section 62 was not to restrict the owners of the
copyright to exercise their rights but to remove any impediment from
their doing so. Section 62(2) cannot be read as limiting the jurisdiction
of the District Court only to cases where the person instituting the
H

+
DHODHA HOUSE v. S.K. MAJNGI [SINHA, J.) 765
suit or other proceeding, or where there are more than one such A
persons, any of them actually and voluntarily resides or carries on
business or presently works for gain. It prescribes an additional ground
for attracting the jurisdiction of a court over and above the "normal"
grounds as laid down in Section 20 of the Code."

In that case an allegation of violation of copyright was made, wherefor B·
the jurisdiction of the court was sought to be attracted stating :

"(a) the copyright of the plaintiffs (appellants) in the "Maloxine"
carton was being infringed by the respondents; (b) the plaintiffs
(appellants) carry on business in Delhi and one of them has a registered
office in New Delhi. It was also stated that the defendants carry on C
business for profit in _New Delhi within the jurisdiction of the High
Court."

No infringement of the trade mark as such was, thus, in question in that
case.
D
In any event, the questions which have been raised herein had not been
raised in Exphar SA (supra).

It is well-settled that a decision is an authority what it decides and not
what can logically be deduced therefrom. (See Bharat Forge Co. ltd v. Utam E
Manohar Nakate, (2005] 2 SCC 489; MP. Gopalakrishnan Nair and Anr. v.
State of Kera/a and Ors., JT (2005) 4 SC 436 & Haryana State Coop. land
Development Bank v. Nee/am, (2005] 5 SCC 91].

In Premier Distilleries Pvt. ltd. v. Shashi Distilleries, (2001) PTC 907
(Mad)], a Division Bench of the Madras High Court in a matter involving a F
passing off action, was of the view :

"The cause of action in a suit for passing off, on the other hand
and as already observed, has nothing at all to do with the location
of the Registrar's office or the factum of applying or not applying for
registration. It is wholly unnecessary for the plaintiff to prove that he G
had applied for registration. The fact that the plaintiff had not applied
for registration will not improve the case of the defendant either. Filing
of an application for registration of a trade mark, therefore, does not
constitute a part of cause of action where the suit is one for passing
off."
H
766 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2005] SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A It was further observed :

"The argument advanced that registration if granted would date
back to the date of application and that the plaintiff would have the
right to seek amendment of the plaint to seek relief on the ground of
infringement as well, is wholly irrelevant so far as the cause of action
B for bringing a suit for passing off is concerned. While it may be
convenient to the plaintiff to institute a suit in a court where he may
later on be able to bring a suit for infringement of the trade mark, that
convenience of the plaintiff is in no way relevant for deciding as to
whether a cause of action for filing a suit for passing off can be said
C to have arisen in a place where, the deceit alleged to have been
practised by the ctefendant had in fact, not been practised within the
jurisdiction of the court in which the suit is brought."

The views expressed therein have our concurrence.

D [See also Gold Seal Engineering Product Pvt. ltd. & Ors. v. Hindusthan
Manufacturers and Ors., AIR (1992) (Bombay) 144]

The Allahabad High Court in the impugned judgment held :

" .. .In the present case a bare perusal of the plaint would show that
the suit is based upon alleged infringement of registered trade mark
E or relating to any right in a registered trade mark or for passing off
by the defendant of any trade mark which is identical with or
deceptively similar to the plaintiff's trade mark. Such a suit cannot be
entertained by the Court at Ghaziabad in view of Section I 05 of the
Trade and Merchandise Marks Act. The mere fact that the Court may
F have jurisdiction to entertain the suit with respect to a cause of action
under the Copyright Act under Section 62 of the Act can be of no
avail. I am therefore of the opinion that the Court at Ghaziabad has
no territorial jurisdiction to try the suit."

In the event, the averments in the plaint disclose a cause of action
G under the Copyright Act, indisputably, the same would survive but if the
cause of action disclosed is confined only to infringement of Trade and
Merchandise Act, or of passing off an action, the suit would not be
maintainable.

The Delhi High Court in its judgment placed strong reliance upon a
H
DHODHA HOUSE v. S.K. MAINGI (SINHA, J.) 767

judgment of the same court in Tata Oil Mills Co. Ltd v. Reward Soap Works, A
AIR (1983) Delhi 286, wherein it was held that a composite suit based on
infringement of trade mark, copyright, passing off and for rendition of accounts
of profits, seeking to restrain the defendants from infringing its trade mark and
wrapper claiming the same to be identical with or deceptively similar to the
wrapper of the plaintiff mark, is maintainable, holding :
B
"The comparative scope of a copyright and trade mark registration
are different, even though where a design on a wrapper is registered
under the Copyright Act, there is, to an extent, an overlapping between
the two remedies. Some controversy is no doubt possible if the mere
jurisdiction of the Court to entertain an action for infringement of C
copyright would also give the court the necessary jurisdiction to deal
with the corresponding infringement of trade mark, where both
constitute part of a composite suit. In view of the undoubted jurisdiction
of this court in relation to the infringement of copyright, court would
be justified in granting injunction of both the trade mark and the
copyright at this stage of the proceedings, particularly, where there is D
a specific averment in the plaint, whatever it may be worth, that the
plaintiff has been selling the goods, inter alia, within territorial
jurisdiction of this Court."

It was held that although in Dodha. House, (supra) Tata Oil Mills,
(supra) was noticed but had not been distinguished on cogent grounds, the E
former was not followed.

The Delhi HighcCourt, as noticed hereinbefore, however, did not advert
to the third contention raised therein saying that the question as to whether
the defendants had been selling its product on a commercial scale at Delhi F
was a question of fact and, thus, was required to be properly determined in
case evidence is led by the parties.

The short question which arises for consideration is as to whether
causes of action in terms of both the 1957 Act and the 1958 Act although
may be different, would a suit be maintainable in a court only because it has G
the jurisdiction to entertain the same in terms of Section 62(2) of the 1957 Act?

A cause of action in a given case both unde1 the 1957 Act as also under
the 1958 Act may be overlapping to some extent. The territorial jurisdiction
conferred upon the court in terms of the provisions of the Code of Civil
Procedure indisputably shall apply to a suit or proceeding under the 1957 Act H
768 SUPREME COURT REPORTS. [2005] SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A as also the 1958 Act. Sub-section (2) of Section 62 of the 1957 Act provides
for an additional forum. Such additional forum was provided so as to enable
the author to file a suit who may not otherwise be in a position to file a suit
at different places where his copyright was violated. The Parliament while
enacting the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act in the year 1958 was aware
B of the provisions of the 1957 Act. It still did not choose to make a similar
provision therein. Such an omission may be held to be a conscious action on
the part of the Parliament. The intention of the Parliament in not providing
for an additional forum in relation to the violation of the 1958 Act is, therefore,
clear and explicit. The Parliament while enacting the Trade Marks Act, 1999
provided for such an additional forum by enacting sub-section (2) of Section
C 134 of the Trade Marks Act. The court shall not, it is well well-settled, readily
presume the existence of jurisdiction of a court which was not conferred by
the statute. For the purpose of attracting the jurisdiction of a court in terms
of sub-section (2) of Section 62 of the 1957 Act, the conditions precedent
specified therein must be fulfilled, the requisites wherefor are that the plaintiff
D .must actually and voluntarily reside to carry on business or personally work
for gain.

In Dhodha House, (supra), admittedly the plaintiff-Appellant neither
resided at Ghaziabad nor carried on any business at the place of residence
of the respondent. In Patel Field Marshal, (supra), the registered office of
E the plaintiff-firm was at Rajkot. Ordinarily, the residence of a company would
be where registered office is [See Morgan Stanley Mutual Fund. Kartick
Das, (1994) 4 sec 225].

The expression 'carries on business' and the expression 'personally
works for gain' connotes two different meanings. For the purpose of carrying
F on business only .presence of a man at a place is not necessary. Such
business may be carried at a place through an agent or a manager or through
a servant. The owner may not event visit that place. The phrase 'carries on
business" at a certain place would, therefore, mean having an interest in a
business at that place, a voice in what is done, a share in the gain or loss
and some control thereover. The· expression is much wider than what the
G expression in normal parlance connotes, because of the ambit of a civil action
within the· meaning of section 9 of the Code. But it is necessary that the
following three conditions should be satisfied, namely :-

"(I) The agent must be a special agent who attends exclusively to the
business of the principal and carries it on in the name of the principal
H
DHODHA HOUSE v. S.K. MAINGI [SINHA, J.) 769
incorporated outside India gets itself registered in India and does A
business in a place in India through its agent authorized to accept
insurance proposals, and to pay claims, and to do other business
incidental to the work of agency, the company carries on business at
the place of business in India."

[See Mu Ila on the Code of Civil Procedure (Act V of 1908) - Fifteenth B
Edition - Volume I, Pages 246-247.]

A corporation in view of Explanation appended to Section· 20 of the
Code would be deemed to be carrying on business inter alia at a place where
it has a subordinate office. Only because, its goods are being sold at a place
would thus evidently not mean that it carries a business at that place. . C
In Dhodha House, (supra), the High Court has positively arrived at a
finding that the infringement complained of primarily is that of the 1958 Act
and not under Copyright Act.

In Patel Field Marshal, (supra) again the thrust was on the sale of D
products and/or advertisement by the Appellant for registration of trade
marks in the Trade Marks Journal and other local papers. The Division Bench
of the High Court, as has been noticed hereinbefore, did not advert to the
issue as to whether the defendant had been selling its product in Delhi on
commercial scale or not. It is, therefore, not necessary for us also to dilate E
further on the said question. We have furthermore noticed hereinbefore that
the advertisement appearing in a journal or newspapers by itself would not
confer any jurisdiction on the court, if it otherwise did not have any.

In this case, the Delhi High Court could not have invoked its jurisdiction
in terms of the 1957 Act. The primary ground upon which the jurisdiction of F
the original side of the High Court was invoked was the violation of the 1958
Act, but in relation thereto, the provisions of sub-section (2) of Section 62
of the 1957 Act could not be invoked.

The plaintiff was not a resident of Delhi. It has not been able to
establish that it carries on any business at Delhi. For our purpose, the G
question as to whether the defendant had been selling its produce in Delhi
or not is wholly irrelevant. It is possible that the goods manufactured by the
plaintiff are available in the market of Delhi or they are sold in Delhi but that
by itself would not mean that the plaintiff carries on any business in Delhi.
H
770 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2005) SUPP. 5 S.C:R.

A It is not in dispute bef<.)re us that the application for registration of the
trade mark was to be filed either at Bombay or at Ahmedabad. The objections
thereto by the plaintiff were also required to be filed at the said places. The
jurisdiction of the D~hi court could not have been invoked only on the
ground that advertisement in respect thereof w'as published in the Trade
Marks Journal. Section-()1~of the 1957 Act, therefore, will have no application.
B The plaintiff has no branch office at Delhi. Its manufacturing facilities are.not
available at Delhi. Both its trade mark and copyright are also not registered
at Delhi.

Our attention has been drawn to the provisions of Section 45 of the
C Trade Marks Act; sub-section 2(in) whereof shows that the marks includes
a device, brand, brand, heading , label, ticket, name, signature, word, letter,
numeral, shape of goods, packaging or combination of colours or any
combination thereof. It may be so that in a given case if such label is
registered, a violation thereof may give rise to cause of action under the said
Act; but only because in a given case, the activities on the part of the
D defendant may give rise to a cause of action both under the 1958 Act as also
under tbe 1957 Act, the same would not mean, irrespective of the nature of
violation, the plaintiff would be entitled to invoke the jurisdiction of the court
in terms of sub-section (2) of Section 62 of the 1957 Act.

For the purpose of invoking the jurisdiction of a court only because two
E causes of action joined in terms of the provisions of the Code of Civil
Procedure, the same would not mean that thereby the jurisdiction can be
conferred upon a court which had jurisdiction to try only the suit in respect
of one cause of action and not the other. Recourse to the additional forum,
however, in a given case, may be taken if both the causes of action arise
p within the jurisdiction of the court which otherwise had the necessary
jurisdiction to ·decide all the issues.

In this case we have not examined 'the question as to whether if a cause
of action arises under the 1957 Act and the violation of the provisions of the
Trade Marks Act is only incidental, a composite suit will lie or not, as such
G a question does not arise in this case.

In ·Patel Field Marsahal, (supra), however, we may notice that a
subsequent development has taken place, namely, after the remand, a learned
Single Judge of the Delhi High Court is said to have granted an order of
injunction in favour of the plaintiff-respondent and the matter is pending
H
DHODHA HOUSE v. S.K. MAINGI [SINHA, J.] 771
and not a general agent who does business for any one that pays him. A
Thus, a trader in the mufassil who habitually sends grain to Madras
for sale by a firm of commission agents who have an independent
business of selling goods for others on commission, cannot be said
to "carry on business" in Madras. So a firm in England, carrying on
business in the name of A.B. & Co., which employs upon the usual B
terms a Bombay firm carrying on business in the name of C.D. & Co.,
to act as the English firm's commission agents in Bombay, does not
"carry on business" in Bombay so as to render itself liable to be sued
in Bombay.

(2) The person acting as agent must be an agent in the strict C
sense of the term. The manager of a joint Hindu family is not an
"agent" within the meaning of this condition.

(3) To constitute "carrying on business" at a certain place, the
essential part of the business must take place in that place. Therefore,
a retail dealer who sells goods in the mufassil cannot be said to "carry D
on business" in Bombay merely because he has an agent in Bombay
to import and purchase his stock for him. He cannot be said to carry
on business in Bombay unless his agent made sales there on his
behalf. A Calcutta firm that employs an agent at Amritsar who has no
power to receive money or to enter into contracts, but only collects
orders which are forwarded to and dealt with in Calcutta, cannot be E
said to do business in Amritsar. But a Bombay firm that has a branch
office at Amritsar, where orders are received subject to confirmation
by the head office at Bombay, and where money is paid and disbursed,
is carrying on business at Amritsar and is liable to be sued at Amritsar.
Similarly a Life Assurance Company which carries on business in F
..... Bombay and employs an agent at Madras who acts merely as a Post
Office forwarding proposals and sending moneys cannot be said to
do business in Madras. Where a contract of insurance was made at
place A and the insurance amount was also payable there, a suit filed
at place B where the insurance Co. had a branch office was held not
maintainable. Where the plaintiff instituted a suit at Kozhikode alleging G
that its account with the defendant Bank at its Calcutta branch had
been wrongly debited and it was claimed that that court had jurisdiction
as the defendant had a branch there, it was held that the existence of
a. branch was not part of the cause of action and that the Kozhikode
Court therefore had no jurisdiction. But when a company through H
772 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2005] SUPP. 5 S.C.R.

A before the Division Bench. As we have not expressed our views on the merit
of the matter, it is needless to mention that the Division Bench shall proceed
to determine the questions raised before it on their own merits.

For the reasons aforementioned, Civil Appeal No. 6248 of 1997 filed by
Mis Dhodha House is dismissed and Civil Appeal No. 16 of 1999 preferred
B by Mis Patel Field Marshal is allowed. The parties shall pay and bear their
own costs.

RP. C.A.No. 6248/97 dismissed.
C.A. No. 16/99 allowed.