India

In CS (COMM) 1113/2025, the Delhi High Court has granted an interim injunction in favour of Allcargo Logistics Limited, restraining the defendants from using the mark “VRS ALLCARGO” or any other mark deceptively similar to “ALLCARGO” in relation to logistics and allied services King Stubb & Kasiva (KSK), through its Intellectual Property practice led by Himanshu Deora, Partner - IP, has successfully represented Allcargo Logistics Limited, a leading Indian multinational logistics company, in a significant trademark enforcement matter before the Delhi High Court, securing robust judicial protection for the globally recognised ALLCARGO brand. Founded in India and operating across 180 jurisdictions worldwide, Allcargo has emerged as a global logistics powerhouse, delivering integrated supply chain solutions spanning multimodal transport, contract logistics, express distribution, and logistics infrastructure. The ALLCARGO brand has, over decades, come to represent scale, reliability, and trust in the international logistics ecosystem. The Delhi High Court recognised the long-standing reputation, extensive use, and goodwill associated with the ALLCARGO mark and restrained the unauthorised use of deceptively similar marks by infringing entities, reinforcing the importance of strong trademark enforcement for Indian companies with global operations. The matter was argued by Ms. Swathi Sukumar, Senior Advocate, Delhi High Court, with Himanshu Deora and KSK’s Intellectual Property team playing a pivotal role in developing the enforcement strategy, managing filings, and steering the litigation to a successful outcome.

King Stubb & Kasiva (KSK) is pleased to share a significant tax litigation update arising from proceedings involving Miles Education Pvt. Ltd. before the Hon’ble High Court of Telangana. In its order, the Court issued important directions to the investigating authorities, underscoring that inquiries must be conducted strictly during working hours, statements must be recorded voluntarily, and established judicial safeguards must be adhered to at all times. In a subsequent proceeding, the Court further emphasised the need for discretion during investigations, particularly to ensure protection of client confidentiality. These orders reaffirm the judiciary’s continued focus on procedural fairness, protection of individual rights, and responsible conduct by regulatory authorities. The observations serve as a timely reminder that investigative powers must be exercised within the bounds of law and due process. KSK welcomes the Court’s intervention and remains committed to safeguarding constitutional and procedural protections in regulatory and enforcement proceedings. The matters were handled by KSK’s team comprising Vipin Upadhyay - Partner, K. Vidya – Partner Designate, and Sai Charan B. V. N – Principal Associate who briefed Senior Advocate Avinash Desai in both writ petitions.

Introduction: A recent parliamentary session witnessed the mention of “Tokenization Bill” by Mr. Raghav Chadha, a member of Rajya Sabha. The suggestion is particularly interesting because while tokenization of real estate assets is not a very new concept in countries like the United States of America which witnessed a rise in real estate tokenization in the year 2018, it is still a budding concept in India. Contrary to the foresaid, the concept of tokenization vis-à-vis real estate gained traction in India around late 2023-early 2024. To give an understanding of real estate tokenization in one sentence- it will allow retail investors to buy real estate in bite sized portions. The concept involves use of blockchain technology to make a real estate asset divided into small digital tokens which are then offered for investment to the willing investor. In other words, it means dividing up a single property into small tokens that exist on blockchain which is a digital database used to record information in a secure way. Each token would represent separate ownership/claim when bought by different investors. Current position: Currently, India does not have a codified law governing and regulating the tokenization of assets such as real estate and intellectual property. Even though there is no specific authority which governs tokenization in India, currently, the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has taken the most definite steps to regulate tokenization within the zone designated as GIFT city International Financial Services Centre. The IFSCA constituted an expert committee on asset tokenization in September 2023 and have even issued a consultation paper dated 26thFebruary 2025 titled as “Regulatory Approach Towards Tokenization of Real-World Assets” whereby, they sought suggestions from the stakeholders to establish a regulatory framework for the “real world assets”. A codified tokenization law without a doubt has the potential to revolutionize the real estate investment market in India by reducing property disputes as the digitalization would bring about transparency in record keeping. The market would be open to the buyers even at a middle-income level as they would be able to invest in real estate by fractional ownership i.e. without having to buy the entire property, hence, resulting in a democratized structure. Tokenization also has the potential to boost real estate market in non-metropolitan cities in India, and this leap has the potential to enable the inclusion of common people in wealth creation. It could also prove fundamental in boosting technology-based startups thereby generating employment. The investors would be able to purchase real estate with the involvement of fewer intermediaries. This suggestion to codify tokenization law comes at a time where by way of a recent judgement dated 7th November, 2025, the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, in the matter of “Samiullah vs. the State of Bihar” advocated the adoption of emerging technologies such as blockchain to ensure transparency in maintaining land records among other things and urged the Law Commission to examine the feasibility of adopting such technology. The Hon’ble court observedthat adopting blockchain technology could lead to restructuring and reviewing existing laws such as Transfer of Property Act, 1882, Indian Stamp Act, 1899, and Registration Act, 1908, Information Technology Act, 2000, Data Protection Act, 2023. The Hon’ble court has also observed that implementation of such technology with proper laws and safeguards has the potential to transform land registration into more secure, transparent and tamper proof system.   Key questions that need to be addressed before implementation of a codified tokenization law with respect to Indian market: It’s safe to say that implementation of tokenization bill would not come without its challenges considering India has a history of long-standing property disputes. India functions on a “buyer beware” model when it comes to real estate purchases meaning that the property records maintained by government authorities in India (such as mutation records) are not conclusive evidence of title, they are presumed to be true unless challenged. A buyer is required and advised to conduct comprehensive title search before buying any property by traditional methods. Now, having said that, while implementing a codified law for tokenization, the policy makers would need to address certain critical issues, for instance, the existing registration act requires any instrument transferring right, title and interest in an immoveable property to be compulsorily registered, in light of this the tokenization law would be required to address two very important challenges: the need for execution of a title document every time a willing investor buys a digital token and whether such instrument would also require registration. Additionally, drawing from the judgment “Samiullah vs. the State of Bihar”, the tokenization law would need to address whether the traditional record keeping be completely replaced with digital record keeping of the property offered for real estate token (RET) investments or would both methods exist in harmony? Currently, Real Estate Regulation and Development Act, 2016 (RERA) operates to ensure transparency in the real estate sector by regulating construction, development, sale, purchase of plots, buildings etc. With the implementation of a tokenization law, RERA’s role would need to be clearly defined specifically in cases where construction is undertaken over the piece and parcel of land which is offered as RET to a willing investor. The tokenization law must very clearly define the role of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) considering the RETs could be sold in real time similarly to the listed securities. Further, property laws are very state specific in India, and a centralized tokenization law needs to be implemented in a way which would operate harmoniously with the state laws.   Conclusion: With proper regulation and safeguards, tokenization can transform real estate ownership in India. Adoption of blockchain technology whether for tokenization or for maintenance of records to do away with colonial system of record keeping could prove revolutionary to the real estate market which India is in dire need of. It would be a very bold step towards financial inclusion in India. An ambitious approach towards tokenization may lead to complete digitalization of records ensuring transparency and potentially resolving India’s long standing title dispute challenges. However, the success of introducing tokenization into the Indian economy would depend on clear and harmonized framework, addressing interstate legal inconsistencies and clearly defining the role of each regulatory body in the tokenization framework by avoiding any regulatory overlaps. It remains to be seen whether blockchain can finally replace colonial ledgers in the long run.   Author: Shruti Choudhary (Senior Associate at Ahlawat & Associates)

By Prashanth Kumar Muddana Telangana State has witnessed a remarkable digital transformation in urban governance. The state’s building permission process — once plagued by manual delays and bureaucratic hurdles — has now evolved into an intelligent, AI-powered approval ecosystem known as BuildNow Telangana. This transformation marks a major leap toward efficiency, transparency, and smart urban planning. The Manual Era — Before 2015 Before digitization, building and layout permissions were handled manually by local authorities such as GHMC, HMDA, DTCP, and various Municipalities and Gram Panchayats. Applicants had to submit physical files and visit multiple departments for No Objection Certificates (NOCs). This process was time-consuming, lacked transparency, and was prone to inconsistencies and corruption. The Early Digitization Phase — 2015 to 2019 Recognizing the need to modernize, Telangana introduced early online systems such as OBPMS (Online Building Permission Management System) by GHMC and ODPMS (Online Development Permission Management System) by HMDA. These allowed online submission and tracking of building applications but had limited integration and required manual scrutiny. TG-bPASS Scheme — Telangana’s First Unified Digital System (2020–2024) In 2020, the Telangana Government launched TG-bPASS (Telangana State Building Permission Approval and Self-Certification System), a single-window platform for online approvals. It brought transparency, reduced human intervention, and provided instant approvals for small residential plots. Key highlights in TG-bPass, Scheme include: - Self-certification-based instant permissions - Online submission and tracking - Departmental integration for NOCs - Citizen convenience and transparency BuildNow Telangana — The AI-Driven Smart Era (2024–Present) With rapid urbanization and the exponential growth of building activity in Telangana, the Government recognized the need to enhance capacity, efficiency, and scalability in urban service delivery. In 2024, the State Government of Telangana introduced BuildNow Telangana, an advanced AI-powered building and layout approval platform replacing TG-bPASS. It integrates all departments under one system and uses artificial intelligence for faster, more accurate approvals. This next-generation integrated platform serves as a single digital window for processing all types of building and layout permissions, offering contactless and self-certification-based approvals. It is designed to deliver services within stipulated timelines, ensuring transparency and accountability at every stage. Building a Smarter Telangana BuildNow Telangana symbolizes the state’s evolution from manual file-based approvals to AI-enabled smart governance. Through this initiative, Telangana reinforces its commitment to efficiency, accountability, and innovation, ensuring that urban development keeps pace with the aspirations of its people and the momentum of its growth. Digital Governance and Citizen Empowerment The vision behind BuildNow Telangana is to provide citizen-friendly, technology-driven services that are both transparent and efficient. The platform leverages advanced IT infrastructure, AI-powered automation, and real-time digital tracking to create a contactless approval process that minimizes human intervention and maximizes reliability. By digitizing traditional workflows and enabling data-driven monitoring, BuildNow is helping to: Reduce delays and eliminate discretionary decision-making, Empower citizens through self-service digital applications, and Strengthen governance through integrated inter-departmental coordination. Collaboration and Future Vision The MA&UD Department continues to collaborate with national and international institutions to introduce global best practices in urban management. By focusing on innovation and data-driven decision-making, Telangana aims to: Develop transparent, citizen-centric, and cost-effective services, Simplify complex approval processes through one-stop digital access, and Enhance ease of doing business to accelerate state-wide growth and infrastructure development. Key Features of AI-Driven Automation in BuildNow: AI-Powered Drawing Scrutiny — Automatically checks uploaded plans for compliance with building codes and zoning laws. Automated GIS Integration — Validates land use, boundaries, and site details using real-time maps. Predictive Approval Analytics — Forecasts approval timelines and identifies workflow bottlenecks. Smart Workflow Automation — Seamlessly routes files to relevant departments digitally. Transparency and Tracking — Citizens receive updates and digital copies of permissions instantly. Data-Driven Planning — Enables better urban planning using aggregated data insights. Timeline of Evolution Before 2015 – Manual Local Systems: Physical files, multiple NOCs, and high delays 2015–2019 – OBPMS / ODPMS: Partial digitization, limited integration 2020 – TG-bPASS: Unified online approval and self-certification 2021–2023 – TG-bPASS: Enhancements including GIS integration, online payments, faster processing 2024–Present – BuildNow Telangana: AI-based scrutiny, unified digital platform Conclusion From manual file submissions to AI-driven automation, Telangana’s building permission journey showcases the power of innovation in governance. BuildNow Telangana represents a model of efficiency, transparency, and smart governance - transforming how citizens and developers interact with the government.