Delhi High Court Extends Personality Rights Protection to Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa

The Delhi High Court held that senior advocate Vikas Pahwa is entitled to protection of his personality and publicity rights, marking a first for India’s legal profession.

The Court observed that unidentified platforms had misused his name, photographs, and credentials to defraud the public for financial gain.

It found that a lawyer’s reputation is built on integrity, trust, and courtroom conduct, not commercial endorsements. The Court restrained unauthorised use of his identity and noted that such impersonation undermines public confidence in the justice system.

The order recognised that professional goodwill has independent proprietary value deserving legal protection.