Bombay High Court rejects PIL alleging Prada copied Kolhapuri chappals

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking action against global fashion house Prada for its alleged unauthorised use of a design deceptively similar to Maharashtra's Kolhapuri Chappal. [Adv Ganesh S Hingmire And Ors v. PRADA Group and Ors].A Bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne dismissed the PIL after observing that the petitioners have no locus in the case. According to the Court, under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration of Protection) Act, 1999, only registered proprietors of the GI can initiate any litigation.Therefore, only Maharashtra’s Leather Industries Development Corporation (LIDCOM) and Karnataka’s Leather Industries Development Corporation (LIDKAR) have the locus to bring an infringement action under the GI Act.."It is not the case of the Petitioners that on account of social or economic background, the registered proprietors are incapable of agitating their own rights by exercising statutory remedies. Both the registered proprietors are government organisations and are apparently established to look after the welfare of artisans involved in leather footwear industry. Both the registered proprietors thus possess the necessary wherewithal for bringing action against PRADA if they believe that PRADA has committed infringement of their proprietary right in Kolhapur Chappal GI", it added..According to the petition, Prada, at its fashion show held in Milan on June 22, had presented 'toe ring sandals' as part of its Spring/Summer 2026 Men’s Collection. The footwear showcased by Prada was reportedly priced at over ₹1 lakh a pair. The sandals bore a striking physical resemblance to the traditional Kolhapuri chappal, it was alleged..Filed by five advocates, the PIL argued that the act amounted to cultural misappropriation and a violation of the rights of artisan communities historically associated with the Kolhapuri chappal.“This action of PRADA infringes the fundamental right to life (Article 21), which includes the right to livelihood and cultural identity of the Kolhapuri Chappal artisan communities,” the plea stated.The petitioners sought directions to restrain Prada from commercialising and using the chappal, which is originally a Geographical Indication (GI) Tagged product. They also sought a public apology from Prada..The Kolhapuri Chappal, registered under Application No 169 in Class 25 (Footwear), was officially granted Geographical Indication status on May 4, 2009. It was renewed in 2019 and is valid until 2029. The petition described it as a "handcrafted footwear, produced using traditional methods passed down over generations in the region of Maharashtra.”The petitioners cited Section 22 of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 to claim that Prada’s actions “undermine the moral and economic rights of the artisans, erodes the cultural identity embedded in the craft and contravenes the objectives of Section 22.”.The plea also asserted that Prada’s actions infringed Article 29(1) of the Constitution of India, which guarantees the right of any section of citizens having a distinct culture to conserve it.Besides restraining Prada from using the design, the petitioners also sought compensation to the artisans for reputational and economic damages incurred..Advocates Ganesh S Hingmire, Vrushali Maindad and Prasad Sapate appeared for the petitioners.Senior Advocate Ravi Kadam with Advocates Hiren Kamod, V Mohini, Aarti Aggarwal, Karan Khiani and Rohan Lopes appeared for Prada..Government Pleader Neha S Bhide with Additional Government Pleader O A Chandurkar and Additional Government Pleader GR Raghunwanshi appeared for Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, Government of Maharashtra..[Read Order]