Who owns Digi Yatra? Delhi High Court to decide

The Delhi High Court is slated to decide a dispute over who owns the Digi Yatra digital ecosystem, the platform that enables biometric-based airport entry and processing [Digi Yatra Foundation Vs Data Evolve Solutions]

The Court recently framed issues for trial in a commercial dispute between Digi Yatra Foundation (DYF) and software developer Data Evolve Solutions Pvt Ltd.

On October 29, 2025, Justice Subramonium Prasad placed ownership of the Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem at the centre of the suit. The Court will examine:

• Whether DYF is the rightful owner of the Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem under the 2021 Minimum Viable Product Agreement;

• If so, whether DYF also holds intellectual property or other rights over the software and services created by Data Evolve;

• Whether Data Evolve infringed DYF’s rights; and

• Whether DYF, in turn, misused any intellectual property belonging to Data Evolve

The Digi Yatra Foundation is a Section 8 not-for-profit company created pursuant to the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s Digi Yatra Policy, 2021. DYF invited technology proposals through a startup challenge launched on May 21, 2021. Data Evolve was selected and, later that year, the parties signed a Minimum Viable Agreement (MVA) dated November 17, 2021.

A Letter of Intent followed in April 2023. DYF claims the MVA provides that all intellectual property in the Digi Yatra platform remains with DYF, while any pre-existing software belonging to Data Evolve remains with the developer (Data Evolve).

In particular, DYF highlights clauses governing intellectual property to assert that all developed software, modifications and derivative works created during the project vest in it.

DYF initiated disengagement from the agreement with Data Evolve after allegations surfaced in late 2023 that the Data Evolve's promoter was involved in the diversion of nearly ₹36.53 crore collected as traffic fines. DYF sought explanations in November 2023 but claims that no satisfactory response was received.

A disengagement letter was issued in January 2024 instructing Data Evolve to begin handing over the Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem and the Digi Yatra app and to share all credentials necessary for operations, maintenance and future development.

However, Data Evolve has claimed that DYF withheld parts of the payment and it owns the intellectual property rights (IP) for the software architecture of Digi Yatra. Sources told Bar & Bench that the company has moved a Court in Hyderabad seeking to protect its IP in Digi Yatra's software architecture.

In March 2024, DYF approached the Delhi High Court seeking urgent protection of passenger data and continuity of services. Justice Prathiba M Singh granted an ad-interim ex parte injunction restraining Data Evolve from using, transferring or making copies of passenger data associated with the Digi Yatra ecosystem

The Court, at the time, described Digi Yatra as a critical infrastructure platform facilitating seamless airport movement for millions of passengers and observed that any disruption would harm public interest and cause reputational damage to DYF and other aviation stakeholders.

Justice Singh directed Data Evolve to facilitate to complete transition and handover of the Digi Yatra platform, including server access and app controls. The order also required surrender of an extensive set of technical assets listed in paragraph 34 of the plaint, including GUI source code, blockchain source code, domain certificates, app store access, SMS gateway access, AWS credentials and other keys necessary to run the platform independently.

To secure the system, the Court appointed two officials from the Delhi High Court's IT division. Joint Director (IT) Zameem Ahmad Khan and IT Head Sarsij Kumar were tasked with visiting Data Evolve’s Hyderabad premises to take custody of devices hosting the Digi Yatra infrastructure, collect credentials and prepare an inventory. They were authorised to videograph proceedings, obtain passwords and, if necessary, seal systems if access was denied, with the assistance of local police.

The dispute before the High Court now centres on whether the rights in the Digi Yatra platform and its software legally vest in DYF or whether Data Evolve holds proprietary interests in the technology it claims to have built.

Operational control over Digi Yatra remains with DYF for now, under the High Court's March 2024 injunction.

The larger question of who owns Digi Yatra will be decided at trial.

Digi Yatra is being represented by Advocates Monali Dutta, Faranaaz Karbhari, Ashwin Rakesh, Saurobroto Dutta, Madhav Sharma, Rhea Matta and Yashraj from HSA Advocates.

Data Evolve is being represented by a team from Anand & Anand led by Advocate Lakshmidevi Somnath

[Read October 29 Order]