Bachchan must appear if rights suit unsettled by Nov 16
Delhi High Court says Amitabh Bachchan must appear in person on the next date if his 2022 personality rights suit isn't settled by 16 November.
Amitabh Bachchan’s long-running fight over his name, image and voice just gained a new courtroom condition. The Delhi High Court has directed the actor to be physically present at the next hearing if his personality rights suit is not settled by 16 November.
The direction came on Friday from a bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav after Bachchan’s legal team asked for more time to complete settlement formalities. His counsel, Dhruv Anand, told the court that an amicable settlement had been reached with some of the defendants, but the agreement is still unsigned because of logistical issues on the actor’s side.
What the court ordered
The court granted time until 16 November and listed the matter for that date. The crucial caveat: if the settlement remains incomplete or falls through, and Bachchan still wants to pursue any claim or issue in the suit, he “shall remain personally present” at the next hearing.
That is not a routine scheduling note. The order invokes provisions that allow a court to examine a party personally under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. In effect, the court is preparing to hear directly from the actor if the case moves forward.
How the case reached this point
Bachchan filed the suit in 2022 after mobile application developers allegedly used his name, image and voice to run lotteries by linking themselves to Kaun Banega Crorepati. He also sought restraining orders against book publishers, T-shirt vendors and other businesses that used his celebrity without permission.
Later in 2022, Justice Navin Chawla passed an ex parte interim order restraining people at large from infringing Bachchan’s personality and publicity rights. The court noted that he was “likely to suffer irreparable loss and harm” and that some activities could bring him disrepute.
What happens next
- The parties have until 16 November to sign the settlement and place it on record.
- If the settlement is unfinished or fails, Bachchan must appear in person to continue any claims.
- The next hearing will decide whether the case closes quietly or moves into a direct court examination.
Why it matters
Personality rights protect a celebrity’s name, image, voice and other identifiable traits from commercial use without consent. For a star as identifiable as Bachchan, those rights are not merely symbolic; they affect endorsements, licensing and how his identity is used online.
The order is also a reminder that even the biggest names cannot always manage a legal battle from a distance. If the paperwork is not finalised, the next date could put the actor himself in court, not just his lawyers.
Source: Hindustan Times
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