2012 (1) G.L.H. 1
RAJESH H. SHUKLA, J.
Arif Abdul Kader Fazlani ....Appellant
Versus
Hitesh Raojibhai Patel and Co. and Anr. ....Respondents
Appeal from Order No. 230 of 2011. With Civil Application No. 6819 of 2011 With Special Civil Application 21 No. 7989 of 2011.
Decided On : 01.08.2011.
New Patent Act - Section 10 - Infringement - It was contended that the learned Judge has erred in not taking into consideration unessential features in the process and has considered minor variation in the 41 process and thereby erred in coming to the conclusion - Further, it is contended that he has also erred in not appreciating that the appellant has a prima facie case and registration of patent itself would be sufficient for prima facie case which ; has not been considered or appreciated - Held, In the facts of the present case, these aspects, as discussed above, clearly suggests and raises the issues which require consideration on the basis of evidence at the trial and, therefore, like any other case reading injunction, the relevant criteria for grant of injunction have to be considered - The Court below cannot be said to have committed any error, though, while giving the reasons it might have come to the conclusion with regard to validity or the registration of the Act, but the same could be said to be only preliminary or for prima facie deciding the application - In other words, such observations with regard to validity can be said to be only to focus on the application, inasmuch as the validity can be questioned or considered in light of the provisions of the New Patent Act when such contention is raised and therefore it should be considered as not conclusive - It is in this background, the submission made in the Special Civil Application challenging the observations on the aspect of validity have to be construed as only preliminary or prima facie for the purpose of deciding the application - Therefore, the ultimate test for the purpose of considering the present appeal is that, while considering such appeal not only prima facie case but other mandatory test applicable in other matters for the purpose of considering the injunction has to be considered like balance of convenience, comparative hardship etc., and if it is considered in light of settled legal position, then, it cannot be said that the present appeal can be entertained as the impugned judgment cannot be said to be erroneous which would call for any interference in the present Appeal from Order - Appeal dismissed.
MR. RAJESH H. SHUKLA, J. :-
1. The present Appeal from Order has been filed by the appellant-original plaintiff with the aforesaid Civil, Application for the prayer that the impugned order dated 10.6.2011 passed by the learned Principal Judge, Anand, below Exh. 5 in Civil Suit No. 3 of 2011, may be quashed and set aside I particularly with reference to the findings with regard to the patent of the appellant-plaintiff stating that the appellant's rights of patentee were not infringed; the process of making bales by the respondents is not the same as the appellant's patented process, and the appellant had no prima facie case, on the grounds set out in the Memo of this Appeal, interalia, that the learned Judge has erred in not taking into consideration the fact that by virtue of the grant of patent which is registered, the appellant is entitled to exclusive right to prevent third parties from using such process which has been a registered patent by the appellant. Further, it is contended that the fact that the patent is registered after proper scrutiny, prima facie suggests that it is registered after proper inquiry. It is also contended that the learned Judge has erred in not taking into consideration unessential features in the process and has considered minor variation in the 41 process and thereby erred in coming to the conclusion. Further, it is contended that he has also erred in not appreciating that the appellant has a prima facie case and registration of patent itself would be sufficient for prima facie case which ; has not been considered or appreciated.
2. The respondents in Appeal from Order No. 230 of 2011 have filed Special Civil Application No. 7989 of 02011 under Art. 227 of the Constitution of India and Code of Civil Procedure of the prayer that appropriate writ, order or direction may be issued quashing and setting aside the reasons and 5 findings contained in the order passed by the learned Principal District Judge, Anand in Civil Suit No. 3 of 2011 below Exh. 5 dated 10.6.2011 and also for the prayer regarding stay of o operation and implementation of the order for the reasons and findings given in the said order below Exh. 5 in Civil Suit No. 3 of 2011 to the extent of holding that the patent of the plaintiff is prima facie valid for the grounds mentioned in the memo of petition, inter alia, that the learned Judge has completely ignored the provisions of the Act. It is also contended that the learned Judge has failed to appreciate the report of Mogambo Solutions as it clearly refers "does not constitute a legal opinion of any kind or nature as to any aspect of the present invention. Users who wish a legal opinion as to the patentability of any invention or the validity or enforceability of any patent are invited to obtain legal Counsel for this purpose." It is, therefore, contended t that even the report of Mogambo Solutions cannot be said to be any legal or authentic opinion. Further, referring to the steps, contentions have been raised that some of the patents which have been registered in U.S. are compared and the contentions have been raised regarding the steps in the process that even as per such reports, steps are only of aligning the cloth and the walls of the cloth bag and sewing the same which is a known method. Therefore, it is contended that the learned Judge has not given any finding and ignored the ancient and traditional method of preparing tobacco bales. It is also contended that the provisions of Sec. 10 of the New Patent Act are not appreciated and therefore a separate petition has been filed before the Appeal from Order could be preferred.
3. As the parties and the issues involved in the Appeal from Order as well as the Special Civil Application are common, both the matters are heard and disposed of together by this common judgment.
4. The facts of the case, briefly stated, are that the appellant-original plaintiff, in order to improve the quality of tobacco leaves packed in bales for 3
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.