Telangana High Court Flags Urgency in Digi Yatra Software Dispute, Seeks Early Injunction Decision
Telangana High Court Flags Urgency in Digi Yatra Software Dispute, Seeks Early Injunction Decision
Introduction
The Telangana High Court has directed a Commercial Court in Ranga Reddy district to decide, within a fixed timeframe, an interim injunction application arising out of a copyright dispute concerning the Digi Yatra platform. The Court emphasised the urgency ordinarily attached to intellectual property disputes while declining to interfere with the trial court’s refusal to grant ex-parte relief.
Factual Background
Data Evolve Solutions Private Limited instituted a commercial suit before the Commercial Court, Ranga Reddy, asserting ownership over software and related applications that allegedly form the technological backbone of Digi Yatra products deployed across airports in India. According to Data Evolve, the copyrighted software was unauthorisedly used beyond the scope permitted under contractual arrangements.
The dispute traces its origin to a Minimum Viable Product Agreement executed in November 2021 between Data Evolve and Digi Yatra Foundation, a not-for-profit entity constituted under the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s Digi Yatra Policy, 2021. Data Evolve was selected through a startup challenge in May 2021 to develop the Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem.
Procedural Background
In the commercial suit, Data Evolve sought ex-parte ad-interim injunction restraining alleged unauthorised use of its copyrighted software. The trial court declined to grant ex-parte relief and adjourned the matter to hear the defendants. Aggrieved by this refusal and repeated adjournments granted for filing counters, Data Evolve approached the Telangana High Court by way of a civil revision petition.
Issues
The principal issue before the High Court was whether the trial court’s refusal to grant ex-parte interim relief warranted interference, and whether directions were required to ensure expeditious disposal of the pending interim injunction application in view of the urgency involved in intellectual property disputes.
Contentions of the Parties
Data Evolve contended that the trial court had failed to appreciate the urgency inherent in copyright infringement cases and had granted multiple adjournments, thereby frustrating the purpose of interim relief. It argued that continued use of the software during pendency of the application would cause irreparable harm.
The respondents opposed the grant of ex-parte relief and supported the trial court’s decision to hear them before passing any interim orders.
Reasoning and Analysis
The Division Bench comprising Justices Moushumi Bhattacharya and Gadi Praveen Kumar declined to interfere with the trial court’s refusal to grant ex-parte ad-interim relief. However, the Court took note of the fact that the Commercial Court had granted at least six adjournments for filing counters.
The High Court observed that intellectual property disputes typically carry an element of urgency and that trial courts must accord due weight to such urgency. While clarifying that it was expressing no opinion on the merits of the copyright claims, the Court held that prolonged pendency of the interim injunction application was unjustified.
The Bench further noted that directing a time-bound disposal of the interim application would strike a balance between the rights of both parties without prejudging the dispute.
Decision
Accordingly, the Telangana High Court disposed of the civil revision petition by directing the Commercial Court, Ranga Reddy district, to decide Data Evolve’s interim injunction application within four weeks from February 4, 2026. The Court expressly clarified that it had not expressed any view on the merits of the copyright claims raised by either side.
In this case the petitioner was represented by Sri Avinash Desai, learned Senior Counsel representing Ms. Sheela Nateshan.
