Credit War Over JEE Result: Delhi High Court Denies Interim Relief To FIITJEE In Suit Against Allen Coaching Centre

The Delhi High Court on Monday denied interim relief to coaching institute FIITJEE in its suit against Allen Career Institute alleging that the latter claimed credit for one of its student’s result who successfully cleared the JEE (Mains) 2023 examination.

It was FIITJEE’s case that the student, Malay Kedia, opted for its “Four Year Classroom Program for IIT-JEE (Advanced)-Weekend Contact Classes” and enrolled himself in one of its coaching centres in 2018. The suit stated that the student attended classes till September 2022 but stopped after October 07 last year.

FIITJEE sought an interim injunction against Allen coaching institute from publishing images or advertisement on social media platforms or Print Media claiming credit for the success of the student, who was also made a defendant in the suit.

Dismissing the application seeking ad interim injunction, Justice Chandra Dhari Singh said that the print news relied upon by FIITJEE do not show that Allen coaching institute, on its own accord, attempted to make commercial profits from the success of the student.

“As such, the news articles reproduced are the interviews given by defendant no. 6 Student discussing his success story and not attributing his success to either of the parties,” the court said.

Noting that the student was no longer enrolled with FIITJEE and that he had ceased to be their student prior to appearing for the JEE Mains exams, the court said:

“Therefore, any interview or statement that may be given by him qua his examinations or the results thereto will anyways not include the history of his studies and will not in any manner prejudice, injure or affect the plaintiff irreparably.”

Justice Singh observed that the success of any student is the result of his hard labour and the infinite efforts he puts into the goal he has set to achieve.

Therefore, dragging a child in a litigation driven by commercial interest between two competing coaching institutions claiming credit for the success of a child is an insult to his endless efforts and cannot be permitted, the court said.

The court also said that there was nothing to show that a renowned institute like FIITJEE had to be apprehensive about which shall bring any kind of bad name to it.

“The institute is only apprehensive that certain time that the student has spent in with them will not be rewarded by way of commercial accreditation and validation, which in my considered view does not at all warrant a relief from temporary injunction as stipulated under Order XXXIX of the CPC,” the court said.

The main suit has been listed for hearing on July 27.

Title: FIITJEE LIMITED v. ALLEN EDUCATION AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES PVT. LTD & ORS.

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 513

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