The Delhi High Court on Tuesday passed an order restraining unnamed individuals and several social media entities from using the image, name and identity of Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa without his consent. .Justice Jyoti Singh also ordered the takedown of the content available online. .Pahwa had approached the High Court seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights. He stated that he enjoys a "well-established pan-India reputation in the legal fraternity and amongst the general public, built through decades of ethical legal practice". "By virtue of his sustained public presence, professional standing, and extensive recognition,15 the Plaintiff’s name, image, likeness, and persona have acquired substantial goodwill, distinctiveness, and independent proprietary value, exclusively associated with the Plaintiff," the suit stressed. It revealed that several of Pahwa's images were being circulated online and being used to deceive people and commit financial fraud. He said that such circulation and use were without his consent and harmed his reputation. Today, Advocate Peeyoosh Kalra appeared for Pahwa said that his pictures have been unauthorisedly used on Facebook and Instagram."Those pictures are being used to defraud people," the counsel said.After hearing the counsel, Justice Singh said that she will pass orders protecting Pahwa's name, identity and registration particulars from being misused..The suit has been filed through advocate Kunal Khanna. .Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.
