The Delhi High Court has imposed a cost of ₹20,000 on the Central Government for repeatedly seeking adjournments in an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) case. Justice Saurabh Banerjee, who was hearing the matter, directed that the amount should be paid to the Army Central Welfare Fund within four weeks.
The case in question was a commercial appeal filed under the High Court’s Intellectual Property Division (IPD). It was initiated by Neeraj Gupta against the Controller of Patents and Designs, represented by the Central Government’s Standing Counsel.
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During the hearing, the Central Government’s counsel acknowledged that while written submissions had been filed in the case, an adjournment was requested because no clear instructions had been received from the respondent authority.
"Since, learned counsel for the respondent has sought adjournment on the last three dates as well, in the interest of justice, renotify on 06.08.2025, albeit, subject to costs of Rs.20,000/- to be paid by the respondent to the Army Central Welfare Fund within a period of four weeks," the Court stated.
Justice Banerjee emphasized that the adjournment was being granted only in the interest of justice, but with the condition that the Central Government must bear the cost as a consequence of its repeated adjournment requests.
The matter has now been scheduled for a fresh hearing on August 06, 2025.
Counsel for Appeal: Mr. Adrita Saha, Adv
Counsel for Respondent: Mr. Ashish K. Dixit, CGSC with Mr. Shivam Tiwari and Ms. Urmila Sharma, Advs
Title: NEERAJ GUPTA v. THE CONTROLLER OF PATENTS AND DESIGNS
