HC: Alumni body can’t use Stephen’s name

The Delhi high court on Wednesday restrained an alumni body of the prestigious St Stephen’s College from using the name ‘St Stephen's College Alumni Association’.

The Delhi high court on Wednesday restrained an alumni body of the prestigious St Stephen’s College from using the name ‘St Stephen's College Alumni Association’.

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The court was deciding on the dispute between the college — which backed its 50-year-old alumni association ‘St Stephen’s College Alumni Association and Executive’ — and the new alumni society, which had named itself identically.

“They (new society) are restrained from using the name of St Stephen's College Alumni Association. They are also restrained from using the college's logo or motto,” said justice VK Jain.

The judge said, “The newly formed alumni body is entitled to use the name ‘Association of Old Stephenians’ subject to condition that it will display an appropriate disclaimer, that it is not the officially-approved recognised alumni association and not affiliated with St Stephen's College.”

The college moved the court to prevent the society from ‘misusing’ its name. St Stephen's College alleged that by using the name St Stephen's College Alumni, the new society was passing of its activities as those of the alumni association, which enjoyed the college's patronage.

It was also accused of misleading former students into joining it and “also collecting subscription, gifts and donations.”