Supreme Court rejects PIL seeking procedure to accord GI tags be hastened
India Today
The Supreme Court refused to entertain a PIL which sought that directions be issued to hasten the procedure of processing applications seeking geographical indication (GI) tag for certain products.
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a PIL which sought that directions be issued to hasten the procedure of processing applications seeking geographical indication (GI) tag for certain products.
The petition sought that directions be issued to the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and the Office of Comptroller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks--the authorities responsible for according GI tag to certain products.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India U U Lalit dismissed the PIL, observing that the petition filed under Article 32 (right to move the Supreme Court by appropriate proceedings for the enforcement of the rights) of the Indian Constitution is misconceived, considering the nature of relief prayed for.
During the hearing, the bench asked the counsel appearing for the petitioner about the significance of geographical indication.
The counsel told the bench that the GI tag ensures that none other than those registered as authorized producers are allowed to use the product name. It promotes the economic prosperity of producers of GI tagged goods by enhancing their demand in national and international markets and gives the manufacturers financial authority.
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"So if there’s agricultural produce from a particular region, what you’re saying is, GI gets attached to certain things, for example Alphonso from coastal parts of Maharashtra, oranges from Nagpur," asked the CJI.
