INDIA BUSINESS WORLD SEPTEMBER (16th - 30th) 2007
The Month that was ...
ORIGINAL CHOICE WHISKY RESTRAINED BY DELHI HIGH COURT
LIQUOR baron Kishore Chhabria, who owns the Officer's Choice whisky that sells 6 million cases, got an interim relief from the Delhi High Court which has temporarily stalled the introduction of rival whisky brand, Original Choice, in certain states.
The Delhi Court is expected to give a ruling on the matter by December 2007. Till then the status quo will prevail. Mr Chhabria has been raising objections before concerned authorities against the use of the name Original Choice by the Bangalore-based John Distilleries.
Original Choice, according to industry figures, sells seven million cases. The court, however, allowed John Distilleries to use the name Original Choice in states where the whisky is already being sold. The court also held that there is no restriction on John Distilleries for selling any other brand belonging to the company.
This decision, the court observed, is an arrangement until the court takes a final decision. Original Choice uses the abbreviation OC - the name by which the Officer's Choice brand is popularly known.
Recently, excise commissioner of Maharashtra had dismissed BDA's objection to the use of the initials, OC, by John Distilleries and allowed the Bangalore-based firm to use the name Original Choice in Maharshtra. The excise commissioner said his office did not have the authority to deny permission to the latter until the high court heard the matter.
If the Delhi High Court' final verdict goes in favour of Kishore Chhabria, it will override the decisions of all other bodies. Officer's Choice sales have gone up from 2.9 million cases two years ago to 6 million cases. Industry sources said if the court rules against Mr Chhabria, it will not affect the sale of his whisky brand, but it will definitely help Original Choice.
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