The Delhi High Court issued a temporary injunction on Tuesday, December 3rd, against Scholars Den, barring them from using disparaging terms such as “sasta wallah” (cheap one) in advertisements targeting the edtech company Physics Wallah (PW). Justice Mini Pushkarna emphasized that Scholars Den must cease the broadcasting, printing, and publishing of any such advertisements in electronic, print, or any other form of media that could harm the reputation of Physics Wallah.
Physics Wallah, established in 2016 by educator Alakh Pandey and popularized initially through a YouTube channel, has been recognized for making quality education accessible with courses priced between Rs 50 and Rs 1 lakh. The company argued that the term “sasta wallah” used by Scholars Den in their advertisements creates a false narrative that PW’s affordability is synonymous with low quality, potentially misleading consumers.
The court’s decision came after Physics Wallah’s counsel presented evidence showing that the advertisements had not only been placed outside their coaching centers but had also been widely circulated on social media. Justice Pushkarna, in her ruling, stated that Physics Wallah had established a prima facie case for the injunction, noting that without it, the company could suffer irreparable harm and that the balance of convenience was in favor of the plaintiff.
