Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon has moved the Delhi High Court by filing a petition to seek legal protection for her personality rights. Acknowledging the rising frequency of such disputes, the court on Friday, October 16, underscored the necessity of thoroughly examining the legal framework governing these claims. Justice Prathiba M. Singh's bench equivalent, presided over by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, instructed the actress's counsel, Pravin Anand, to gather relevant judgments and research content pertaining to personality rights. The court sought clarity on the extent of legal protection granted under these rights and whether the Intellectual Property Division of the High Court falls within the proper jurisdiction to resolve such controversies.
Examining the Scope of Legal Jurisdiction
The judge observed that since litigation of this nature is appearing before the courts with increasing frequency, the underlying legal questions must be evaluated beyond the confines of the immediate facts of the present case. The court directed advocate Anand to define the precise scope of personality rights and determine which specific attributes of an individual qualify for statutory protection. Explaining the parameters, advocate Anand submitted that personality rights typically encompass a person's name, voice, face, likeness, photographs, and videos. He further pointed out that a core issue in these legal battles is the unauthorized commercial exploitation of an individual's identity without obtaining prior consent or permission.
Court Requests Compilation of Precedents and Research
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav asked the counsel to place prior judicial pronouncements and scholarly research on record for the court's perusal. The court remarked on the need for a curated collection of decisions and an articulation of the legal understanding surrounding personality rights to help shape a broader judicial perspective. Advocate Anand assured the bench that the requested compilation would be filed on the very same day, while also maintaining that no jurisdictional ambiguity arises in the case concerning Kriti Sanon. The court has scheduled the next hearing for the matter on October 29.
