-{ I /$. I IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Reserved on:29'h April and 3'd June, 2010 Decision on: 15th JulY, 20lO W.P. (O No. 10450 of 2009 ZEPHYR BIOMEDICALS ""' Petitioner Through: Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari, Advocate' .VETSUS i. LALIT MAHAJAN & ANR. ""' Respondents Through: Mr. Maninder Singh, Senior Advocate with Ms. Saya Chaudhary and Mr. Jaspreet Singh, Advocate for R-1. Vt. A.S. Chandhiok, ASG with Mr. Jatan Singh, Advocate for R-2. CORAM: JUSTICE S. MURALIDHAR ORDER 15.07.2010 -=-\ .' In terms of the common judgment rendered today in Writ Petition (Civil) 351612007 titled "Dr. (Miss) snehlatu c. Gupte v. (Inion of India & ors" along with eight connected writ petitions, this writ petition is dismissed with 8* 'v I ('' -*, costs.of Rs. 20,000/- which will be paid by the Petitioner to Respondent No. 1 Lalit Mahajan within a period of four weeks. A copy of the judgment passed in w.P. (c) No. 3516 of 2007 be placed forthwith on the file. I-ra_1 S. MURALIDHAR, J JULY 15, 2010 dn '$- Digitally Signed By:AMULYA Certify that the digital file and physical file have been compared and the digital data is as per the physical file and no page is missing. Signature Not Verified tN 'tllll III(;ll COURT Olr DI'ILIII AT' NIi\\/ Dltl,lIl Il'eserved ou: .Z9tl' April and -i"l Jtrnc, 201 0 l)ccisiorr ou: I -5"' July, ?.0l() . W.l'. (C) No.3516 ol'40(|7 l)l{. (Nliss) SNI'llll,n'fA C. (;tJl']'l'l: ..... l'ctitiottcr 'l'hlough: Mr. l'ravin Anantl ancl Mr. J. Sagar with Mr'. Sagat' (ihalttha, Atlvocatcs. VCISUS IJNION OII INI)IA & Oi{S. ..... I{cspotttlcttts 'I'hrouglr: Mr. l{uclrir M ishra with Mr. ltahulJain. Advocirtcs fbr l{-l to lt-zl. Ms. Pratibha M. Singlr, Advocatc {irr l{--5. W.P. (C) No.35l7 ol'2(f(17 l)Tt. (Miss) SNI')IILAI'A C. GtII'l'li ..... Pctitiorrcr' Through: Mr. Pravin Anand and Mr. -1. Sagar with Mr. Sagat Charrclra, Aclvocal"cs. f1 VCI'SUS TJNION OII INJ)IA & ORS. ..... Rcspoltdcnts 8, ) 'fhrough: Mr. l{uchir Mishla u'ith Mr. I{ahul Jaitr, Aclvocatcs lbr J{-l to It-4. Ms. Platibhat M. Singlr, A<lvocate lor l{--5. W.l'. (C) No. 5422 ol 2007 DIt. CIRISII J. I{INDANI ..... l)ctitioncr 'l'hrough:Mr. Pravitr Anancl and Mt..l. Sagar with Mr. Sagar Chandra, Advocatcs. vol'sLls TJNION O].'IN])IA & OI{S. ..... llcsporrtlents 'l'ltror.rgh: Mr. lhrchir Mislrra witlr Mr. ll.alul Jain, Aclvocittcs lilr It-l to li-4. Ms. L'raLibhtr M. Singh, Atlvocatc ftrr l{--5- W.P. (C) No.5423 of 20(17 l)lt. (Miss) SNljlll.A'l'A C. Glll'l'll ""' f)ctitiorrer 'l'hrough: Mr. Pravin Anand ancl Mr' J. Sagar . with Mr. Sagar C'ltanclra, Aclvocates. W.P.(C) Nos.3576,3577,5422, 5423 of 2007 & 70399,70400 & 70450 of 2009 & 7020 of 2070 poge 7 ol 40 vcISuS I n AA IJNION Ol; INDIA & OltS. ..... ltcsporrdcrrLs ! ( t 'l'hrough: Mr. l{rrchil Mishra with I . Mr. l{ahul .lain, Advocatcs fbt l{-l to l{-4. I Ms. Pratibha M. Singh, Aclvocatc lor l{-.5. W.l'. (C) No. 10399 of 2()l)9 ZIII'IIYI{ I}lOMltl)I(IALS Pctitioncr 'l'lu'ough: Mr. Saniccv Kuutar'l'iwari, Atlvocatc. VETSUS Lnl,l'l'Mn tlnJAN & ANI{. .....l{cspon<lcrrts "l'hrouglr: Mr. Marrinclcr Singlt, Scrtior AclvocaLe with Ms. Saya Clrauclhary antl Mr. .f asprcct Singh, Atlvocatc fbr I{-1. Mr. A.S. Chanclhiok, ASG with Mr. .Tatan Singh, C(iSC for lt-2. :1 W-P. ((l) No. l{)4110 ol'2009 ZIIPIIYI{ BIOMJII)ICALS ..... Petitioncr 'I'h rough : Mr. San j ecv l(rtrtrar'I'i r.r'ari, Aclvocatc. versus LAl.l'l'Mn IlnJnN & ANI{. ..... licspontlctrts ' 'l'hrough: Ms. Saya Chautlhary and Mr. .lasprcct Singh, Advocatc {br l{-1. Mr. A.S. Chandhiok, AS(l rvith Mr. Jatan Sirrglt, CGSC {or I{-2. W.P. ((l) No. 10450 of 2009 t/)'\-' zJlptryRIlIOMJiDlcALS ..... Petitio.er 1'hrough: Mr. Saniccv Kular'l'i'uvari, Advocatc. versus Lnl-l'l'Mnl IAJAN & nNI{. ..... ltcspondcnts 'l'hrouglr: Mr. Mauindor Singlr, Scnior Advocate with Ms. Saya Chauilltary and Mr. w.P.(C) Nos. 3576, 3577,5422, s423 oJ 2007 & 70399, 70400 & 70450 oI 20og &.7020 of 2070 poge 2 ol 40 Jaspreet Sirrgh, Ach,ocats lil'lt- I . Mr. A.S. (ihanrlhiok. AS(i rvith Mr-..lal.an Singlr, Advocatc for l{-2. ANI) W.l'. (O) No. 1020 ol20lt) TIIIOTIjC PllAl(MAClllJTtCN.S Pctitiottcr 'fhrouglr; Mr. l{aiiv Nayyar atrcl Mr. Sudhir " Nandrajog, Scnior Aclvocatcs lvith Mr. I'ragyau l'radip Shamra and Mr. l{upcsh (iu1rta, Advocatcs. VCTSUS 'ffll: n SSIS'l'nNl' CONlltOl,Llilt Ol; Pn'l'liN'l'S, I)IISIGNS &'fl(ADli Mn l{KS & Ol{S. ..... l{cspondcrrts 'l'hrough: Mr. A.K. l)hardlvari with Ms. Jagrati Singh, Aclvooates for I{-l & I{-2. Mt. S. Majrurrclat'ivil"lt Mr. Saurabh Bancrjcc, Atlvocatc ior I{-3. COIIAM: JUSTICII S. MIII{ALIDIIAIT l. Whcthcr rcpotlct's ol'local papol' nlay bc allorvcd to sco thc.ittdgnrcnt? Ycs 2. 'l'o bc ref-erred to the reportcr or n<lL'? Ycs 3. Whether thc jtrtlgnrent slrould l;c rcl'ct'rccl irt thc digcst? Ycs .IUD(}MIiN'I' l. 'l'hc short but intcrcstirrg clttcstiott of' larv col'l'tlllol'r to all tlrcsc pctitiorrs: When can a patent be said to be grarrled ttndcr tltc I)atcnts Act, 1970 ('Act')? 'fhc qucstion adscs iu thc cotrtcxt oi'thc <lisulissal of prc- l: grant oppositions lty thc Controllcr of Patcuts ('Oontrollcr') on thc ground that thcy werc timc-lratrcd undcr Scction 2l <tI thc Act. 2-. 'l'lre factual backgrountl itt cach sct of'1:ctitiotrs is tteccssury ttl bc sct out in ordcr to apprcciatc lrou, thc qncstion ariscs ftrr tlctcrutinatiott itr w.P.(C) Nos. 3s76, 3577,5422, 5423 oJ 2007 & 70399, 70400 & 7o45o of 2009 & 7020 of 2o7o page 3 ol 40 ?\ ,| cach of thcn. (l'rit Petition (C) Nos. 35t6, 3517, 5422 und 5423 of 2007 (l'' Set oJ' Petitiorts) 3. J. Mitra & Cornpany [tcsponclcttl.No.5 irr W.P. ((]) No. 3-51(t <>l'200-1 Ijlccl two partcnt Application Nos. 590/J)c112000 and 593/J)cll2000 itr thc Officc ol'thc (lontrollcl on 14'l' .lunc 2000. 'lhc patcrt spccilications involvccl in thc two applications lvcrc publishccl in tltc oliicial Bazcttc oll 20'r' Novcnrbcr 2004 itr tet'tns ol' Scctitltr I lA of thc Act. At that stagc, Scction 25 ol'tlre Act had trot beetr atnenrled. ljrrdcr Scctiott 25 of'thc pre-arncnclccl Act, au opposition to thc grant ol patelrt hacl to bc fjlcd rvithin lbur tnonths Iiotu that clay i.c., thc datc of aclvcrtisctncut (publication) which pcriocl cor.rlcl bc cxtcndcd by orrc tnon{lt upon tltc Controllcr lrcing satislicd by thc rcasons givcn lbr'such dclay. 4. Span l)iagnostics Ltcl. ('SJ)L') titcd a prc-grant opllgsition r\'hich caurc t0 bc rcjcctccl lty thc (loutroller orr 2.]"l Augrrst 2-00(r. 'l-ho glreral.ivc pot'tiott tl{'thc ordsr passccl by thc C'orrtrollcr rcads as ttttder: "ln vicw ol'thc abovc discttssion and in consiclcration o{'tltc subtnissions of'both thc partics. I hcrcby orclor to grant l'l'atcut No. 194639 | on I'atont.Al4rlication No. 59 0 I D cl I 200 0 rvi th thc I ollou'ing conclitiou : 'fhr: Applicants shall give cross refcrsncc to tltc patcut application r1o. 593/J)c1i2000 on pagc 2 ol' thc complete specilication aud strbmit tltc arncnded/retyped page(s) within a rveck {iortr thc tlatc of these order. 'l'lre Opposition otr l)atctrt Applicatiorr No. -590/Dcl/2000 (1946:i9) is tlispttse<l o{' irr al>ovc w.p.(c) Nos. zsle, islt,srtzz, 5423 ol 2007 & 7o3gg, 7o4oo & 70450 of 2009 & 1020 ol 2070 page 4 ol 40 ?\ ,u0 t^ l.enns. No older tt) cost." 5. frr terms of Section 43 of the Act, wltcrc tltc allltlicatiotl {br a pntellt has bccrr lbund [o be itr orcler for grant of patent atrd if the applicttion has cithcl not bccu rcltrscd by thc Controllcr or has not bccn lbund in contlavcnlion of thc Act, thc patcnt shall bc grantccl as cxllcditi<lusly as possiblc "with thc scal o1'thc patcnt ollicc and thc tlatc on rvltich tlrc patcnt is grantcd shall bc cntolcd in thc I{cgistcr". lJttdcr Scction 43(2), upon thc grarrt of'patelrt, tlre (lontrollcr "shall pulllish tlrc firct tlrat tltc patcltt has beeu grantcd and thelculton thc applicatiou, spccilication atrtl othcr docunrcuts rclatcd tltcrcto shall bc opcn (or putrlic itrspcctiotr". lJnclcr ltulc 55(5) of thc l']atcnts l{ulcs 2003 ('l(ulcs'), thc (lonttollcr u,ill cxarninc thc statcmcut and cviclcncc filccl by thc applicatll (lbr thc griutt of patont) and uray cithcr rclirse to glant thc patout or rcquilo tltc c<lmltlete specification t"o be an.rendcd to his satislirotiotr ltclirrc thc pateut is grautcd. IIndcr l{ule 55,(6), tlre (]ontrtlller shall, allcr ctlnsiclcrittg thc 'rcprcscntation (i.c. thc prc-gratrt opllosition, i1' any) attd sttlltttissions lraclc clgrirTg thc hcaring il'so rcclucstccl, "proccc{l firrthcr sitrrultarrctlr.rsly cithcr rojcctirrg thc rcprcscntation alld gralltirrg the 1;al"eltl tlr acceptittli thc rcprcscntation and rclusing thc grant tlf' llatcnt olr that applicatitln, or:tiinarily within 'otrc ttrotrth [i'om lhc con4:lctiorr of thc al>ovc pr0c0cdings". Cr. ll, is thc casc of thc l{cspouclcnt'No.5 J. Mitra & (l<1. that rvhcn ott 23"' August 2006 thc (}rrrtlollor rcjcctcd tltc pt-c-grant opprlsitiorr {ilcd by w.P.(C) Nos.3s76,3577,5422, 5423 of 2007 & 70399, 704oo & 7o4s0 ol 2009 & 7020 of 2070 pogc 5 of 4O I p a (- Sl)1, ancl in lact in tlte txcler usecl the rvor-tls "l hcrcby ordcr to grattt paterrt...", this rvas situulttuleous with the rejectitltr rll' tlrc prc-.grilnt oppositiou irr tclnrs of'l{ule 55(6) of the l{rtles antl, tltct'c(ilt't:,2.3"tAugust 2006 was thc datc on which thc patcrrt was grarrtctl to .1. Mitra & (lonrpany. 7. On thc vcry noxt day, i.c. 24'r' Augttst 2006 J)r'. Snchlata (it4rtc, thc Pctitiorrcr irr W.I'. (O) No. 3-5 t6 of'2007, filc<l a prc-grant o1:positiorr vrs' cr-yi.s Patenl No. I 94639 filcd by .1. Mitra & Ctl. According to 'l)r. (irrptt:. in tcrurs of'thc arrctrdurcuts introducecl itr section 2-5(l) ol thc Act by rvay of'tlrc Patcnts (Atrouchrcnt) nct,2005 rvitlr cllbct {ionr l".lanuary 2005, thc tinrc pcriod for liling a prc-grant opposition stootl oxtottrlcd till thc grirnt of thc patcnt. According to thc I'ctitioncr, thc patont was llot grantccl till such timc it was not scalccl aud'cntcrcd irr tho Ilcgistcr in temrs of Scction a3(l) of thc Act. [t is stated thal. as on lhc datc of ths lilirrg of thc prc-grant op1:osition by I)r. (hqrto., i.e-24"'August 2006, thc patcut iu fhvour of'J. Mitr-a & Conrpany had tttlt bcctl gratrtctl sincc it had not yct bccn scalccl antl cutct-ccl irr thc l{cgistcr. ll. on 5'r, scptcrnbcr 2006, J)r. (iirish l{inrlani, thc l,ctitiouc| irr writ Pctiriorr (c) No. 5422 0L 200'/ Llled a prc-graul oppositio.u vis-ii-vis thc patcnt application of J.Mitra & Co.. 9. lt is not in clispute that tlte l)atcntNo. l946llt3 grertrtcd to.l. Mitra & (lorlparry rvas cntcrcd in thc Itcgister ott 2.2"" Scptcnlbcr 2006. l)ttcnt w.p.(c) Nos.3576,3577,s422, s423 ol 2OO7 & 7[3gg, 70400 & 10450 oi 2O0s & 7020 of 2070 poge 6 of 40 d/ f1 ?* No. lgrl(r39 glantccl to it rvas erttercd irr the l{eg,istcr olr 27"'scptctttbcr 2006. Certi(icrl copics of'thc rolcvatrt cntries in thc ltegisl.t:r havc bcctt placc(l on rccor(I. In tcrurs of Scction 4ll(2) oi the Act, thc said trto pctitiorrs o{'.1. Mitla & Oorrrpany wcrc publislrccl in tlrc .lottnral o('lltc l)atcnt Ot'ticc datcd l7'r' Novcnrbcr 2006. 10. on l6'r' octobcr . 2006, tho prc-gfant Oltposition oJ' l:otli J)ctitit>ncls were rejected by [hc Controllcr on thc g.routtd ol'ttraitttainirbility. 'l'his rvas rlouc, hou,cver, rvithout a{'fbrding thc turo Petitiortcru att tDportttttity 0l lteing lreaxl. On .ll'' Oc;tobcr 2.006, both f)cl"itioucrs wrotO to the Coutrollcr scoking a lrcaring bclbrc rcjcction ol' thc pfc-grarlt oppositions. On 23"r .lanuaty 2007, thc Controllcr grirntctl thc I'ctitioncrs a hcari'g. 'l-hcrcallcr on 30'r' April 2007 and 3"' May 2007, rvrittcn statcnlonts wclc l'ilctl and SubmiSSitltrS ,vcLc itdvancr:tl by t:tltlr tlrc Pctitioncm bclbrc thc Corrtrollcr. I l. writ Peritiorr (o) NOs. 3.516 anrl 3.517 of 2007 rvcrc (ilccl by I)r. Snclrlata Ggptc challcngiug tlrc orclcr clatod 16"' Octobcr 2006 rvith rcf'crcrrce to thc l)ateul- No..194639 and 194638 respectivcly. on ?-2"'l May 2.007, thc Controllcr passccl {icslt Ordcls lcjccting thc prc-grant opltgsitions of thc Pctitionors on thc grortnd tlrat tlts tlplltlsitions wclc tinrc-barrccl. Iloth Pctitioucrs i.c. Dr. ltindani and J)r. Guptc clrallcngcd tlre said'orcJer clatecl 22"'t Mtty 2007I'ty liling writ [)eLitiorr (o) Nos. .5422 arrd -5423 of 2007 respectivelY. W.P.(C) Nos.3516,3517,s422, s423 of 2007 & 70399,70400 & 70450 ol 2009 & 7020 ol 2070 Poge 7 ol 40 ?{/ r4 + Q 12.'l'tre al:ovcpctitiotts ltavc bcctt rcsistccl lly l(es;lontlcrrtNtl..5.l. Mitra & Co. [t is contcnclcd tlrat tho orcler oIthe (.'urrtr<lllel rvas cortsisLcttl. rvitlt thc con'cct p<lsitiou iu larv. Accorrling t<l l{csltonclcnt Ntl..5, the filing, tll' thc two prc-graltt oppositions by I)r. Guptc arrcl l)r. l{irrdani wits alstl art abusc of thc ploccss of larv. It is allcgcd by J. Mitla & ('o. that SJ)L, which is in thc busincss of salc alttl pr.trchasc o1'varions 1:harrl'raccuticals prociucts, is a habitual inli'ingcr and is dclitrcratcly ancl coltsciously violating various intcllcctual propcrtics o{'.1. Mitra & (ltl. SI)1, is allcgcd to bc corrtirruing to iufiirrge thc riglrts of-l{esponclent Ntl..5 rvith irtrpruiity. IL is conLeudcrl l"hart each and cvery procluct itt respect <l{'tvlrich J. MitliL & (b. has applicd filr ancl/or has bccn .r;rarrtcd a patcrrt is cithcr bcirrg opposccl or inli'ingccl by SI)L. 13. l'}atcnt No. l9436tt is lbr an itrvctrtiou titlcd "A l)cvicc lbr. tlrc cletcction of antillodics ol'llepertitis (] virus in ltuurain scrulu aud pla.stna". I)atcntNo. 194639 is ltlr irn invcution titled "A device ftrr the dctcctiott 9f I lcpatitis O vinrs". Alter tlre grant of'thc a(irrcnrcntiotrctl patcnts irt its Itrvour-,.1. Mitra & (lo..fjlcd Oivil Suit (OS) No. 2.2.02-0 of'20(Xi irr tltis Oourt agairrst Kcsar Msnclicanrents (KM) antl Sl)1, lor patcnt inli-ingcnrcnt. t3y a jutlgnrcn! <latctl 22"'r .Lcbluary 200t3, this (}lr"u1 glantcd an injunction rcstfailtillg KM antl SJ)L lrotn tnaurtfitctttlittg, sclling, olTcring lbr salc thcir llOV Sigual ot any otltcr product which was in inli'ingetncu{. of .1. Mitra & Co's PatcnLNo. l9463ti- It is statcd that in the said suit ST)1, has filetl a couuter clairtr lor rcv<lcatiorr ttf the piltcllt. W.P.(C) Nos. i576, 9577,5422, 5423 of 2007 & 70399, 70400 & 70450 of 2'009 & 7020 oI 2070 pogc I of 40 .F Sultntissions of Corltrscl irt the I" Sct ttJ'petitio,t;'lry.P. (Q No- 35.-6 ttf' 2007 etc.J 14. Appeariug for'.1. Mitra & O<1., Ms.l'ratibha Sing,h, lcarttccl cottttscl, submittcrl that botlr I)r. Snchlata (iupte arrd t)r. l{intlani in't: contrcctcd to Sl)1,. I)r. Guptc is statccl to bc rnrrrriug tlrc Surat Ilaktatlarr Konclt'a, thc (,'hairmarr of rvhich is Mr. I'raclccp K. J)csai rvho is thc (lhainnan/Managing l)ircctol ol' SJ)t,. It is statcd. that l)r. (ittptc was awarc of Sl)L's oppositirln to J. Mitra & Co's patcrtts. Ms. Singh ptlitttctl out Lhat npon tht3 said prc-gralrt oppositiort bciltsl rc.icctcd tltt 2-i"l Att.gttst 2.006 thc patcnt lrad to procccd {ilr rcgistratiotr. Ilowcver, to ctltrtitrrrc the scrial opposiLions, {irsl I)r'.(igpte lilccl a pre-gl'alrt opposititln olr lhc vcly ncxt day i.c. 24't'August 2006. l)r. Itirtclani, rvho is also statctl to bc conncctcd to SDL, lilccl a scparal"c prc-grant tryposititlrr ott 5'r' Scptcntbcr 2006. 'lt is subrnitLod that thc {iling o{'scrial opptlsitions lry pclsons connectcd to SI)L al1er its pfe-grant oppositiotr ltad bcctt lcjectcd rvas nalaficle ancl if such applications wc.rc pcnnittccl ttl bs entertitirtetl, tlterc would lrc uo cnd to the filirrg of such ltrc-glaurt oppositions particularly siucc atisr Llte aurcttcltt].ni tn Scctiorr 25( l) irr 200-5, a prc-llrarrl. opposition can l>c filcd by'any pcrson'. lt is subtnittcd that if'tlrc starrtl <lf'thc l)ctitioncrs is a<;ccptcd, it would tlcfbat tlrc olrjoctivc ol'tlrc Act which is to grant a patcl]l rathcr than rclirsing, it. 15. Ms. Singh pointed ou[ that in thc rcjoindcr to its colu]tcr affidavit, thc l)ctitioncrs clo not clcuy that t)r. Gultte is cotrlrected Lo SI)1,. It is tinly statccl that snch avcnnct'lts arc rnislcadirrg "atrcl tlrat thcy ltavc tto bcaritrq op t|1c prcscll! casc". lt is lulthcr pointccl out that the petitiorrers cotrtetrtl w.P.(C) Nos.3576, 3577,5422, 5423 of 2007 & 70399,70400 & 70450 oJ 2009 & 7020 of 2070 poge 9 of 40 +1 t-A +- in thc rcjointlcr that "it is illtnatcrial ltll tlie putptlscs ol'tltc 1;t'csctrt'writ pctition ,uvhethet a persol'l rvho files il prc-P,rilnt oplltlsititllr is rcctlrdcd ttl rlr rrot rcct)Lclerl rvho is intcrestcd itr thc cotlcct'nctl llatcltt llcirrg oplloscd"' 16. ltc{'crring to thc clccision in K.D. Sltsrmu (2008) 12 SCC 481, Ms.Singh submittcd that thc Pctitioncrs havc, l'ry uot tlisclosing thcir rclationship with sl)],, not colllc to thc Court with clcan ltands and' ' therelilre are disentitled to thc rclictis prarycd for itt the u'rit peLitiorrs. Itef'cn-ing to the clecisi0ns in lthogwonii Vishuuii T'huhltur v. pr)winchundru,Iivtuthltui pututlitt (tggs) 2 GLR I43B nn(l Ijttl<,rtuirtntent Nehyork (hulia) Ltd- t. supcr cussette Industries- I.td. (2005) 13 SCC 30 it is snbmittcd that a purposivc constrrtction would ftavc tg bc acloptccl ancl it has to bc hcld that in tcrnts of Jtrrlc 5.5 (fi) ol thc l{ulos rcacl with SccLion 43 (l) oI thc Act tltc patcnt is grantc<l oncc au order to that efltct is passccl by the Oontrollcr sitnultattcous rvith the rc.iectiotr oI thc first sct of prc-grut oppositiols rvhich arc clecided by thc (lorrtrollcr. 'lt is subrnittecl tlrat there has to be att otltcr tilrc lirlit lbr liliug a prc-grant oppositiou whiclr iu arly cvcut callnot l)c l:cyoncl thc clatc of thc Corrtroller passing all ordcr orr lilc grantirrg tlrc patcnt. 'l'hc scalilg agd cntcring of thc paLont in thc l{cgistct'arc nlcl'c trriltistcrial acts rvhiclr urake no clifferencc to thc datc oI tho graut oIthc patot]t. 17. Ms. Singh rclbrs to an orclcr datcd 2"'r Marcir 2009 passed by thc snl.rrcrnc court irr sl.P (civil) No. 3522 of 2009 (Indian Np.Iworli ltor I'eople nith IllltLlids v. I,'. IloJJinurtn-l.u Roche l(J) which arosc fiotn w.P.(C) Nos. 3576, 3577,5422, 5423 of 2007 & 70399, 70400 & 70450 of 2009 & 7020 of 2o7o poge 70 ol 40 ?Y \^ I { an (xller datecl 30'l' Jattrtary 2009 passcd by thc Assistant (lorttrtlller ol' [)ntcrrts. 'l'his u'as heartl n,ith SLI'((]ivil) No. 2.9857 of 2.00tt filctl agairrst l.lrc .jrrclgnrcut datc<l 2"'l [)ccctitllcr 2-00tj tll' thc Matltas lliglr O<lrrlt rcporlccl as fndiurt Nettpork ltor People with IIlV/lids v. It. Ilo.llinurtn- I,u Rolhe AG MII>R 2009 (2) 0036. lly thc saicl jndgnrcnt thc Matlras Iligh Court sct asidc an orclcr granting Itocllc a patcnt withont disposirrg of t"hc prc-gtant oppositions lilcd lty thc Indian Nctwork lbr l'coplc rvith lilV/Aids uncler SccLion 25(l) of'thc Act. 'l'hcrcallc| by an order dal'etl 30'l' .lanuary 2009, the Assistarrt Ooutroller rcjccl"cd lhc prc-granL opposition. 'l'he Suprenrc Cltlltrt, without going irtttl Lltc tttcrits tlf'the contcrrtions that thc l)ctitioncrs wcrc (lcprivcd ol' irlr opportttuity of' raising bclorc thc (lontrollcr ntrnrcrons sontcntiotrs on Ittct'its, otrscrvctl that lhcy could bc givcn pcrtlissiott to lilc an al'{idavit ancl raisc atl coutcntions at thc stagc of post-glant oppositiotrs ',vhich had alrclrly bccn filed ancl r,'u'crc pcnditrg bcltrrc the (lontroller. On the stt'cngth of tltc abovc orclcr, it is subnrittcd by lcagrcd counscl for.[. Mitra & (]o..that SI)l , itsclt'coukl ljle post-grant opposition bc{ilrc thc (l<lrrtrollcr atrd, thcrc{brc, uo prcjuclicc was cansccl by thc grant of' patcnt tg thc l{cspondcnt No. -5 by thc orrlcr datcrl 23'd August 2006. ln any evcttt, Sl)L 5as also lilocl a countcr-clainr iri thc suit sccking rcvocaltion o['thc patcnt. 18. Mr. Pravin Alaurcl alxl Mr. J. Sagar, lcarnccl cotttrscl ltlr I)r. (itrlltc ancl I)r. I{inclaui, on thc other lrarrd, poitrtecl or.rt ttl llte plca t'aisccl in tltc plaint in c.s. (os) No.2020 of'2006 filcd by thc llcsponclcnt 'No..5 J. W.P.(C) Nos.3576,3s77,5422, 5423 ol2oO7 & 7o3ss, 7o4oo & 70450 ol2009 & j:}.":r':;:, w q (^- I Mitra & Co. there is a clear adrirission to thc c1J'cct tlrat thc patent had lreerr grantecl on ).?."n Scpternbcr ?.006. 'l'ltis \\fits thcreftlrc tht: nrrclcrstan<ling of J.Mitra & (lo. itsclf. 19. Lcarncd connscl {ilr thc l)ctitioncrs also attackctl thc borraliclcs o['J. Mitla & Co. allcging that it was an inli'ingcr rvhich had applicd firr arrd obtaincd a plcthora of patcnts which wcrc in {act copics ol'patcnts and produots available wor'lclwidc ancl in India. It is subnritted that tlre two patcnts in cluestiou rolatc to a third ancl fourth generation tlcvicc [or thc detcctiorr of llCV autibodies in the hurnan sernnl aurl plasnra. lloth tlrc patcrrts lvcrc irnitations oI a patcnl" <lbtaincd by a tJS c<llnpany, liY Laboratorios, in 1991. Ilowovcr, sincc JiY Labolatorics clid not havc ar patcnt in Inclia, procccclings could not bc institutccl against.f . Mitra & ('o. lbr iuli'iusorncnt. 20. lt is submittsd by learned counscl lilr thc pctitioncls that all clairns ol' J. Mitra & Co. filcct in thc'tJnited States l)ateut Oftice lta<l bccrr rcicctctl on tlrc qrounds oIobviousncss and irrsu{ficicucy. [t is pointcrl out by Mr. Anand that Ii.cspondcut No. 5 had originally applied fur thc patcnts in clncstior: u,ith l4 claiurs followccl by rcduction o['claitls to 7 aflcr which thc pateut was published lirr oppositi<ln u,ith the said 7 ciainrs. Whcn thc patcr)t rvas grautccl on 22"'t Scptcrnllcr 2006,it lvas grantccl lirr 4 claiurs. Clairu 1 of thc 4 clainrs is stated to bc diffcrent fi'oln the published (llainr L livcn aftcr acknowlcclging this to be a rristal<c irr its ortlcr datcd 2..i"1 August 2006, thc Patcut Oliicc has not putrlishcrl tlrc clainrs firr w.t,.(c) Nos. 3576, 3577,5422, s423 ol 2007 & 7Errr, ';OOO U 70450 of 2OOg & 7020 ol 2070 pogc 72 of 40 F7 (- I '4 opposition. It is stated that after thc oldcr rlatccl 2.1i"' Angust 2006, the patenl. office was urrder obligation uot to grant thc patcnt r.vithin thrcc rnoul.hs of'thc statuLory pcriod of'ap1:eal so tlrat an aggricvctl ltarty c<lLtld filc an apllcal. lt is allcgcd tha.t thc cntirc ploccss of grant of'patcnt rvas donc in a cluick and clandcstinc uranncr so thal no ol"lc would knorv about thc samc. 2-1. lL is subnrittcd by Mr. Anand that Lhs diagnostics kit industry is a vcry srlall ancl closc knit and "cvcty<lnc kttorvs everyonc in this {'icld". Clainring to bc arnong thc leading scicntists in their fiekl, Lhc PctiLioncrs statc that "it is not only thcir duty but also thcil rcsponsibility to cnsnrc that no unsclttpulous trarlcr usurps rights ol othcr partics ol rrralaiiclcly stops othcl partics involvcd in this licld." lt is sr.rbnrittcd that thc intcntion of thc Pctitioncrs is "not to stall thc grant of patcuts [:ut Lo try and cnsure that uo u'r'onglul patents are granted to unscrupulous tradcls in thc intcrcst of thc putrlic". It is submittcd that a paLcnt is a conrplctc monopolistic right arrd should bc granted only afier tlue cunsitlcration. lt is Ibr this rcason that thc lcgislaturc has built in tarious safbguards likc pre-grant opposition, post-grant opposition, rcvocations, couutcr'-clairrr lbr rcvocations and dclbuccs oI rovocation in a suit {br iuli'inscnrcnt. It is statcd that thc'uvords of thc statntc are clcar anrl till suclr tiurc thc graut of lhc patcnt is nlarlc knowrr by thc publicatiun iu thc ol'licial gazctrc, it cannot be said to havc bccn glantcrl in larv. lt is also poin{.ed orrt that the inteqrretation cauvassetl by counsel lrlr resporrdcnl" No.-5 rvas contraty ttl thc currcul practico of'thc (]ontlollcr's ollicc and rvould lcacl to a grcat w.P.(c) Nos. 3s16, 3577,s422, 5423 of 2007 & 7o3ee, 7o40o & 7o4so of 200e & 7:X1!rr:;:, dcal ol' avoiclallle con {irsion. Writ Petition (C) Nos. 10399, 10400 untt 10450 of 2009 12"'t sel oJ' petitinrtsJ 22.'l'hc rclcvant l'acts arc that l,alit Mahajan [{csptltttlcnI No.l in rrll thc abovc rvrit pctitious lilccl throc patcnt applications Ibr grant oIpatctrts bcing Applicatiou Nos. l6ttti/l)c112001, 161l9lDcll2007 orr ti'r' Artl3rtst 2007. ln Application No. 1688 <t[200'1, thc iuvctrtiotr rclatcd to a tlcvicc fbr aualysing the llreseuce o{'T)cnguc IgG antitroclics itr lrttttrall semltl arrd lrfasrla. A1:plication No. l6tt9 ol'2007 relatcd to tlte itn'etttiott rlla kit {br arralysirrg the presence of dettgrte [gM antiboclics in tltc l.rtttrlatr scmnl or plasma. Lalit Mahajan also lilccl trvo othcr applications bcirrlt 74lDcll2005 antl75/Dc112.005 on l2-"'.lanuaty 2005 in rclatiorr to a Pan Malaria Stix ancl a 'I'ctra Malaria Stix rcspcctivcly lbr tcsting ol'tttalatia. 23. Lilit Mahajan's. Application No. l6tJ8/J)c112007 rvas ptrblished in thc .lournal on 3l'' August 2007. 'Ilrc patent was grattl.cd attd was also scalcrl on l(rtl' Octobcr 2008. A prc-granL t4rpositiorr rvas filed by thc pctitioncr 7,cpl'ryr llionrcclicals ('7.cphyr'') t)u l2'r' I)ccctttbcr 200ti. 'l'hc pro-{}raltt opposition was rcjcctcd on 4'r'March 2009. 'l'his otclcr rvas clrallcngctl by Zcplryr in Writ Pctition ({l) No. 10399 of 2009. 24.l.alitMahajan's Application No. l6ti9/I)e112007 wirs pul:lishcrl ou 7'r' Soptenrbcr 2007. 'l'hc patcut rvas gritntccl ancl sealctl tlrt l(r"' Ocklbcr' 200ti. 'l'he prc-grant oppositiorr rvas filecl by Zephyr on 12."' l)ccctrtbcr 2008. lt was lcjcctcd on 4'l' March 2009. 'l'his olcler rvas clrallcngcd by w.P.(C) Nos. 3576, 3577,5422, 5423 ol 2007 & 10399, 7o40o & 70450 of 2009 & 7020 oI 2o7o poge 74 of 40 q .+ d- I /.ephyr in Writ Petition (C) No. 10400 ol 2009.