Bombay HC junks PIL against Prada on Kolhapuri sandals

Pune: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against Prada. The PIL concerned the alleged copying of the Kolhapuri Chappal design. The court stated that, under Geographical Indications (GI) law, the affected parties - specifically the producers' associations - should have come forward to defend their case.

The Kolhapuri chappal is a GI product registered under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act.

Five lawyers had filed the PIL, demanding that Italian fashion house Prada compensate the artisans who make Kolhapuri chappals.


The court informed the lawyers that the registered owners of the GI product should be the ones seeking redressal. However, the GI for Kolhapuri Chappal was awarded jointly to two government agencies in Maharashtra and Karnataka, not to manufacturers' associations, unlike many other GI products. These agencies have not approached the courts to defend their GI rights.

Instead of pursuing legal action, the industry body Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA), which had initially written to Prada, is now looking to work jointly with the brand to help local artisans.