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Collector Of Central Excise v. Vikshara Trading And Invest. P. Ltd

Collector Of Central Excise v. Vikshara Trading And Invest. P. Ltd

(Supreme Court Of India)

CA No. 2240 of 1997 with CA No. 870 of 2000 | 27-08-2003

S. Rajendra Babu, J.

( 1. ) Civil Appeal No. 2240/1997 There are two respondents in this appeal. Insofar as respondent No. 1-M/s. Vikshara Trading and Investment Pvt. Ltd. is concerned the Tribunal has fully discussed the matter and decided the case. Insofar as respondent No. 2-M/s. Dhanvi Trading and Investments Pvt. Ltd. is concerned there is hardly any reference to the facts of the case in the course of the order of the Tribunal. Therefore, the order made by the Tribunal cannot be made applicable to M/s. Dhanvi Trading and Investments Pvt. Ltd. at all. In that view of the matter the order made by the tribunal insofar as M/s. Dhanvi Trading and Investments Pvt. Ltd. is concerned is set aside and the matter shall stand remitted to the Tribunal for fresh consideration in accordance with law. The appeal is allowed in respect of respondent No. 2.

( 2. ) So far as M/s. Vikshara Trading and Investment Pvt. Ltd. is concerned the only question raised before us is that originally the trade mark had been registered by one Shri Shantilal P. Jain and Subodh S. Shah of Calcutta in respect of certain detergent and they had assigned the same in favour of M/s. CMC (India) Pvt. Ltd. Subsequently the same was re-assigned to M/s. Vikshara Trading and Investment P. Ltd.

( 3. ) The contention put forth before the Tribunal as well as before us is that no document has been shown that the subsequent assignment in favour of M/s. Vikshara Trading and Invest. P. Ltd. was registered as contemplated under the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958. This aspect was taken note of by the Tribunal that the trade mark need not necessarily be in respect of all goods unless registration has been so acquired and it is therefore, permissible in law to have same brand name for different classes of goods owned by different person, and in that background found in favour of the respondent and held that the Notification No. 223/87-C.E., dated 22-9-1987 was applicable. When as a matter of fact it is held that there was an assignment in favour of the first respondent and that fact was not in serious dispute the mere fact that the assignment was not registered could not alter the position. Therefore, we decline to interfere with the order made by the Tribunal and to that extent the appeal is dismissed in respect of respondent No. 1. Civil Appeal No. 870/2000

( 4. ) The facts of this case are identical to those in M/s. Vikshara Trading and Invest. P. Ltd. respondent No. 1 in CA No. 2240/1997. Following the said decision and for the reasons stated therein, this appeal is also dismissed.

Advocate List
  • For the Appearing Parties Nisha Bagchi, K.C. Kaushik, B. Krishna Prasad, Alok Yadav, V. Balachandran, Advocates.
Bench
  • HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S. RAJENDRA BABU
  • HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE J.G.P. MATHUR
Eq Citations
  • (2004) 13 SCC 49
  • 2003 (27) PTC 603 (SC)
  • 2003 (157) ELT 4 (SC)
  • LQ/SC/2003/842
Head Note

A. Intellectual Property — Trade Marks — Assignment of trade mark — Non-registration of assignment — Effect of — Held, mere fact that assignment was not registered could not alter position that there was an assignment in favour of first respondent and that fact was not in serious dispute — Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958, S. 31