Delhi High Court Orders SKOCH Group To Remove Junglee Games Name From Survey Ads
Delhi High Court Orders SKOCH Group to Remove Junglee Games' Name from Survey Ads
The Delhi High Court recently issued an interim order directing think-tank SKOCH Group to remove the name and trademark of Junglee Games from advertisements related to a survey on responsible gaming. The survey had been published on SKOCH's website and various social media platforms. Additionally, the business newspaper Mint has been instructed to either redact Junglee Games' name and trademark from the advertisement or remove the entire ad if redaction is not possible.
Justice Mini Pushkarna passed the order, emphasizing that the relief is temporary and subject to a full hearing on the merits of the case, scheduled for March 27.
The SKOCH Group had conducted a survey to evaluate the online gaming industry’s adherence to responsible gaming practices, including measures to prevent addiction, ensure fair play, and protect vulnerable users, particularly minors. The survey also assessed the implementation of tools such as self-exclusion and spending limits. Published in December 2024, the survey ranked various gaming platforms, including Junglee Rummy, which was given a ranking of 10 out of about 70 platforms.
Junglee Games contended that the advertisement was defamatory and disparaged its reputation, especially since SKOCH’s task force had ranked certain platforms, which they argue are in direct competition. Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao, representing Junglee Games, told the Court, "Each day this advertisement remains online, it continues to damage my reputation. The balance of convenience is in my favour."
Advocate Saikrishna Rajagopal, representing SKOCH, denied the allegations, claiming that the organization is a socio-economic think tank, not a commercial entity, and its awards are not for sale. He also opposed the interim injunction, arguing that it would infringe on free speech and the right to information.
Justice Pushkarna raised concerns about the survey's objectivity, specifically questioning the funding sources of SKOCH and whether donations from companies ranked highly in the survey influenced the results. She asked, "What donations have you received from those rated at the top?" Rajagopal promised to file an affidavit addressing the Court’s concerns.
Earlier, on January 17, the Court had issued a similar interim order on a plea filed by Games24x7, which had also made a prima facie case for interim relief against the survey.
