Delhi HC Settles Mankind Pharma Trademark Suit as Caremankind Hospital Agrees to Change Name

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has settled a trademark dispute between Mankind Pharma Limited and Caremankind Hospital Private Limited by passing a decree in terms of an agreement under which the hospital company acknowledged Mankind Pharma's rights over the "MANKIND" name and agreed to discontinue the use of "MANKIND/CAREMANKIND" and other identical or deceptively similar names.

Justice Jyoti Singh passed the order on September 14, 2026, in the suit titled Mankind Pharma Limited vs Caremankind Hospital Private Limited, numbered CS(COMM) 673/2025. The court accepted the settlement reached through mediation, disposed of the suit and the pending application, and held Mankind Pharma entitled to a refund of its entire court fees.

The dispute arose from Caremankind Hospital Private Limited’s use of a trademark or trade name incorporating “MANKIND”. Mankind Pharma approached the High Court seeking, among other reliefs, a permanent injunction restraining the hospital company and anyone acting on its behalf from selling, offering for sale, advertising, or directly or indirectly dealing in goods and services under “MANKIND”, “CAREMANKIND”, or any other identical or deceptively similar trademark or trade name.

Mankind Pharma’s case, as recorded in the order, was that the challenged use amounted to infringement of its registered trademark rights and/or passing off. Its request for protection extended to its formative trademarks and their variants. The September 14 order summarises the relief sought but does not set out the company’s trademark registration details, evidence of use, or a detailed account of the events preceding the suit.

During the pendency of the proceedings, the parties resolved their differences before the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre. They executed a settlement agreement dated May 21, 2026, and a copy was placed before the court.

Recording the defendant’s position under the settlement, the court noted that Caremankind Hospital Private Limited had acknowledged Mankind Pharma’s exclusive proprietary rights in the trademark and trade name “MANKIND”. The hospital company agreed to cease using “MANKIND/CAREMANKIND” and any other trademark or trade name identical or deceptively similar to Mankind Pharma’s “MANKIND”, “KIND”, and KIND-formative trademarks.

Caremankind Hospital Private Limited also agreed to apply for a change in its company name before June 1, 2026. Although the court’s order was passed subsequently in September, it does not state whether the name-change application had been filed or whether the company’s name had actually been changed. The order also does not reproduce any separate substantive defence advanced by the hospital company; its recorded position concerns the acknowledgements and commitments made in the settlement.

After examining the agreement, Justice Singh found its terms lawful and accepted the settlement as the basis for disposing of the dispute. The court’s decision therefore gives effect to the parties’ negotiated resolution, without setting out a detailed determination of the competing infringement and passing-off claims.

The court stated:

“Court has perused the terms of the settlement and finds the same to be lawful. Accordingly, the suit is decreed in terms of the settlement between the parties.”

Giving its consequential directions, the court ordered:

“Registry is directed to draw up the decree sheet.”

It further stated:

“Suit is disposed of along with the pending application.”

On the refund of court fees, the court ruled:

“Plaintiff is held entitled to refund of entire court fees in accordance with the Court Fees Act, 1870.”

The proceedings thus concluded with a decree incorporating the settlement, including Caremankind Hospital Private Limited’s commitment to stop using the disputed names and apply for a change of its corporate name.

To view the order, click the link below: