Semler Research Centre Pvt Ltd (SRC), which has been dragged to court by Manipal Acunova Ltd (MA) for making use  of its confidential information, has responded that the charges levied against the company are baseless and prefers to pursue all legal recourse to defend itself against all the false allegations made by MA.

It may be noted that MA had accused SRC and its six employees (former employees of MA) of making use of their confidential information. MA had filed a case in the City/Civil & Sessions Court, Bangalore (OS 7934/2010) under 39 Rule 1 and 2 r/w Section 151 Civil Procedure Code seeking an ex- parte temporary injunction against SRC and its six employees.

SRC has said that it has at no time done business against the norms of good business practices.  Since 2006, SRC has been in the business of formulation development, conducting BA/BE, proof of concept, bio-analytical and pre-clinical studies and providing GxP consulting services to customers in India and abroad. Some of the senior employees of MA had resigned from their services for better career prospects and had joined SRC. These employees of  SRC are not using any of the confidential information as has been alleged. These employees were holding senior positions at MA and are currently employed with SRC.

Also SRC said the six employees, who have been dragged to the court, other than bringing with them their years of experience and knowledge in the clinical research industry, have not passed on any confidential information, as alleged. In today's free economy, every person has a right to join any organization which improves their future prospects, career and overall development and utilize their skill and knowledge that they possess which is the fundamental right granted to citizens in India.

Further SRC stated that  based on the documents submitted to the court, the honourable judge has granted only an ex-parte order that refrained the six employees from utilizing the confidential information of MA. All the allegations made by MA are false, frivolous and vexatious and the suit has been filed just to harass the ex-employees and ensure that they do not get employment elsewhere. This was done to frighten the ex-employees, current employers and also the potential customers that law suits have been filed against them hoping that this would dissuade the potential customers from giving their business to the ex-employees' new company.

Against this background SRC is keen to pursue all legal recourses to defend the false allegations made by MA. Also SRC stated that since the matter was sub judice it would be unable to provide any further information.