Quick Summary: Chowgule Industries sued ICRA for saying bad things about them in some credit reports. The big question? Which court should handle this case: Goa or Delhi? The court decided it's Delhi.
Chowgule Industries: A company based in Goa that deals with cars. They're upset because they think ICRA's credit reports made them look bad.
ICRA Limited: A credit rating agency based in Delhi. They published reports that Chowgule claims are misleading.
The Agreement: In December 2020, Chowgule and ICRA signed an agreement to get credit ratings.
The Reports: ICRA released three reports in 2024. Chowgule says these reports were full of false info and hurt their business in Goa.
"The reports contained incorrect, misleading, and damaging statements concerning the Appellant."
The Lawsuit: Chowgule filed a lawsuit in Vasco, Goa, claiming the reports damaged their reputation and business.
ICRA's Response: They asked the court to move the case to Delhi, saying the agreement specified that all disputes should be handled there.
Judge Nivedita P. Mehta's Ruling: The court agreed with ICRA. It said the agreement clearly stated that any disputes, even ones not directly related to the contract, should be handled in Delhi.
"The Agreement and any obligations arising from or connected to it shall be governed by... the Courts of Delhi."
The Jurisdiction Clause: It was all about the agreement. It had a rule that said any legal issues should be dealt with in Delhi.
The Tort Argument: Chowgule argued that saying bad things about someone is a civil wrong and should be handled in Goa. But the court said the claim was linked to the contract, so the Delhi court has the right to hear it.
The court decided that the case should be moved to Delhi because the agreement between Chowgule and ICRA said that any legal issues should be handled there. Chowgule can continue their case in Delhi if they choose to.
