Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Supreme Court Upholds Order Barring ‘Saurashtra Aaj Tak’ Name
A Gujarati newspaper was using the name “Saurashtra Aaj Tak.”
TV Today Network said people might think the newspaper was connected to its Aaj Tak news channel.
The Delhi High Court ordered the newspaper to choose a different name.
The newspaper asked the Supreme Court to change that decision.
The Supreme Court refused and said the name could amount to passing off.
A lower court had earlier allowed the name if the paper printed a clear disclaimer, but the High Court overturned that decision.
The Supreme Court gave the newspaper three months to change its name.
The dispute began after TV Today learned in 2002 that the newspaper was being published in Rajkot.
The Supreme Court dismissed a Gujarati newspaper’s challenge to the Delhi High Court order barring it from using “Saurashtra Aaj Tak.”
The bench found no reason to interfere with the High Court’s July 30 judgment and described the dispute as a clear case of passing off.
TV Today Network argued the name could mislead the public into believing the newspaper was associated with its Aaj Tak news channel.
The High Court ordered the newspaper to adopt a name that is neither identical nor deceptively similar to the Aaj Tak trademark.
The Supreme Court granted three months to complete the rebranding, rejecting the newspaper’s request for six months.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, a Gujarati newspaper using the name “Saurashtra Aaj Tak,” and TV Today Network.
- What
- The Supreme Court dismissed the newspaper’s challenge to an order requiring it to stop using that name and rebrand.
- When
- The ruling was reported on October 7; the dispute dates back to 2002.
- Where
- The case was heard in India; the newspaper was being published from Rajkot.
- Why
- TV Today Network argued that the name could mislead the public into believing the newspaper was associated with its Aaj Tak news channel.
TV Today Network
Gujarati newspaper
Use of the name
TV Today Network
TV Today Network argued that “Saurashtra Aaj Tak” could confuse the public and create a misleading impression of an association with Aaj Tak.
Gujarati newspaper
The newspaper challenged the order barring it from using the title; a trial court had earlier permitted continued use with a prominent disclaimer.
Time to rebrand
TV Today Network
The Delhi High Court required a new name that was not identical or deceptively similar to the Aaj Tak trademark.
Gujarati newspaper
The newspaper sought six months to change its name, but the Supreme Court allowed three months.
- Supreme Court decision
- Dismissed the newspaper’s plea and declined to interfere with the Delhi High Court judgment.
- Rebranding deadline
- Three months to comply with the High Court’s directions.
- High Court direction
- Choose a name neither identical nor deceptively similar to the Aaj Tak trademark.
- Earlier trial court ruling
- In February 2012, allowed use of the title subject to a prominent disclaimer stating there was no affiliation.
- Lawsuit timeline
- TV Today learned the newspaper was being published from Rajkot in 2002 and filed a passing-off suit in April 2003.
