Commnr., Central Excise, Bangalore vs M/S. Meyer Health Care Pvt. Ltd. & Ors

These appeals are directed against the judgment and order

of the Custom, Excise and Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal

(CEGAT), South Zone Bench allowing the appeal filed by the

Appellant before the Tribunal and holding that since there is an

Assignment Deed in favour of the respondent in the present case,

therefore, the respondent shall be entitled to the benefit of the

Exemption Notification. The aforesaid findings of the Tribunal

are under challenge in this appeal on which we have heard the

learned counsel appearing for the parties.

Counsel appearing for the appellant has submitted that on

the date when the case was registered against the respondent,

there was no Assignment Deed executed in favour of the respondent

and, therefore, the respondent is not entitled to take benefit of

the aforesaid Assignment Deed to avail benefit under the exemption

notificaton. The counsel appearing for the respondent, however,

refutes the aforesaid submission contending, inter alia, that so

: 2 :

far the brand name is concerned, the owner of the brand name has

assigned the trade mark in favour of the respondent and,

therefore, in view of the decision of the Supreme Court in CCE,

Ahmedabad Vs. Vikshara Trading & Invest P. Ltd. & Anr. Reported in

2003(58) RLT 604(SC) the respondent is entitled to avail the

benefit of the Exemption Notification. However, our attention is

drawn to another decision of this Court by the counsel appearing

for the appellant in Meghraj Biscuits Industries Ltd. Vs.

Commissioner of C. Ex., U.P. Reported in 2007 (210) ELT 161 (SC)

wherein almost a similar issue came to be considered by this Court

and while dealing with the same, this Court observed thus:

"On reading the above quoted paragraphs from the above judgment, with which we agree, it is clear that the effect of making the registration certificate applicable from retrospective date is based on the principle of deemed equivalence to public user of such mark. This deeming fiction cannot be extended to the Excise Law. It is confined to the provisions of the Trade Marks Act. In a given case like the present case where there is evidence with the Department of the trade mark being owned by M/s. Kay Aar Biscuits (P) Ltd. and where there is evidence of the appellants trading on the reputation of M/s. Kay Aar Biscuits (P) Ltd. which is not rebutted by the appellants (assessee), issuance of registration certificate with retrospective effect cannot confer the benefit of exemption notification to the assessee. In the present case, issuance of registration certificate with retrospective effect from 30-9-91 will not tantamount to conferment of exemption benefit under the Excise Law once it is found that the appellants had wrongly used the trade mark of M/s. Kay Aar Biscuits (P) Ltd."

: 3 : According to the provisions of the Trade Marks Act, for

getting registration of a trade mark, an application is required

to be filed in accordance with the provisions incorporated in the

said Act. Such an application is required to be advertised and a

detailed procedure is required to be followed before grant of a

registration in favour of a claimant. Since a variety of

procedural steps are required to be taken like issuing an

advertisement, hearing objections, if any filed, it becomes a

lengthy procedure and, therefore, time consuming for grant of a

registration in matters of trade mark. But once registration is

granted in respect of a particular trade mark in terms of the

application according to the provisions of the Trade Marks Act,

the registration dates and relates back to the date of

application. However, the position appears to be different as has

been held by this Court so far excise law is concerned. This

Court has already held in the aforementioned decision that effect

of making the registration certificate applicable from

retrospective date under the trade mark law is based on the

principle of deemed equivalence to public user of such mark

whereas such deeming fiction cannot be extended to the excise law

and that the same is only confined to the provisions of the Trade

Marks Act.

Admittedly, in the present case, the assignment of the

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trade mark in question granted in terms of the agreement entered

into between the parties was on 6.10.1998, which is subsequent to

the date of registration of the case by the Department, which was

done on 19.9.1998. As to whether or not the effect and in fact,

the aforesaid Assignment Deed which is granted in favour of the

respondent would relate back prior to a date of 19.9.1998 and

consequence thereof is a matter which is not decided by the

Tribunal. Since the same is an issue which is relevant and

relates to determination of the factual aspects, it would be

appropriate to have a decision of the Tribunal on the said issue.

We consider that it may not be proper for us to decide such

a disputed question of fact by ourselves. We, therefore, remit

back this matter to the Tribunal for consideration of the

aforesaid issue as to whether or not the Assignment Deed which was

entered into between the respondent and the owner of the trade

mark on 6.10.1998 would also be applicable to the case in hand and

would date back prior to a period of 1998 to be considered and

decided by the Tribunal by recording an effective and reasoned

decision. Therefore, we set aside the order of the Tribunal to

the aforesaid extent and remit back the matter to the Tribunal for

de novo consideration of the aforesaid issue as expeditiously as

possible, preferably within a period of six months.

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The appeal is allowed to the aforesaid extent.

In view of the aforesaid order, IAs are also disposed of.

We make it clear that this order is confined only to the aforesaid

issue and nothing more at this stage.

.......................J. (Dr. MUKUNDAKAM SHARMA)

......................J. (ANIL R. DAVE)

NEW DELHI, APRIL 07, 2011