Patiala Distillers & Mfrs. Ltd v. U.O.I & Anr

O R D E R

¶1Respondent No. 2 has not entered appearance despite of service. It is pointed out that the respondent No. 2 had also not appeared before the Intellectual Property Appellate Board. Accordingly, I have heard the counsel for the petitioner.

¶2The petitioner herein on 25th August, 1986 had applied for registration of label 'Commando XXX Rum' in class 33. An advertisement was published in the Trade Mark Journal on 1st November, 1993 and thereafter the respondent No. 2 filed their opposition.

¶3Learned Registrar vide his order dated 24th November, 1997 rejected the petitioner's application for registration and allowed respondent No. 2's opposition.

¶4Aggrieved, the petitioner filed an appeal being Civil Miscellaneous (Main) No. 392/1999 before this Court, which was transferred to the Intellectual Property W.P. (C) No. 6569/2008 Page 2

Appellate Board under Section 100 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999.

¶5By the impugned order dated 16th June, 2008, the appeal filed by the petitioner has been dismissed on the ground that the petitioner did not file any evidence in support of the application under Rule 54 of the Trade and Merchandise Marks Rules, 1959.

¶6Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that there was an error and mistake on the part of the counsel appearing for the petitioner but one opportunity to file documents/affidavit should have been granted to the petitioner.

¶7The petitioner had earlier filed Civil Miscellaneous (Main) No. 392/1999 before the High Court against the order dated 24th November, 1997 passed by the Assistant Registrar of Trade Marks, Delhi and then petition was transferred as an appeal before the Intellectual Property Appellate Board. The respondent No. 2 had not filed any response to the appeal before the Appellate Board or even before the High Court. The word 'Commando' has been registered in the name of the petitioner in respect of wines, spirits and liquor. The petitioner had applied for registration of the label in question in August, 1989 and the matter had remained pending in the High Court and then before the Board. Lapses can take place when legal proceedings get prolonged. Some latitude in such cases can be given.

¶8Keeping in view the aforesaid facts, the impugned order dated 16th June, 2008 passed by the Intellectual Property Appellate Board is set aside and the matter is remanded back to the said Board. One opportunity is granted to the petitioner to file evidence by way of affidavit within a period of four weeks from today. Fresh notice will be issued to the respondent No. 2 herein before the appeal is decided by the Appellate Board.

¶9The petitioner will appear before the Registrar of the Appellate Board on 7th December, 2009, when next date of hearing will be fixed.

The writ petition is disposed of.

SANJIV KHANNA, J.

NOVEMBER 10, 2009

VKR

W.P. (C) No. 6569/2008 Page 1 37. * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 6569/2008 Date of decision: 10th November, 2009 PATIALA DISTILLERS & MFRS. LTD. ..... Petitioner Through Mr. Ajay Amitabh Suman & Mr. Ranjit Kumar Rana, Advocates. versus U.O.I & ANR. ..... Respondents Through Nemo. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJIV KHANNA 1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2. To be referred to the Reporter or not ? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest ?