HC questions six lawyers' legal right to sue Prada

High court dismisses plea

- Karuna Nidhi

The Bombay high court on Wednesday questioned the legal right of six advocates to file a public interest litigation (PIL) accusing Prada of cultural appropriation after the Italian luxury fashion brand showcased Kolhapuri chappal-inspired footwear at the Milan Fashion Week last month.

Dismissing the plea, a division bench of chief justice Alok Aradhe and justice Sandeep Marne said that the petitioners were neither an affected party nor a registered association of the footwear makers.

“What is your locus and the public interest? Any person aggrieved can file a suit. What is the public interest in this?” the bench said. Responding to one of the petitioners’ arguments that he had done research on the matter, the bench said, “You cannot come to the court because of your social or economic background. This infringement cannot come under PIL.”

What the petition said