Devise ways for effective disposal of IPR cases:SC to Delhi HC

The Supreme Court today voiced concern over undue delay in disposal of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) cases in the Delhi High Court and asked it to work out ways for their speedy disposal.
A bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Navin Sinha expressed dissatisfaction over the manner in which evidence was being recorded in these cases.
"At the very outset, we make it clear that the present order should not be perceived to be any kind of interference in the administration of the Delhi HC, but has to be construed to be an effort on the part of judiciary as an institution to work out ways and means to dispose of long-pending contested civil suits throughout the country for which purpose the HC and, particularly, the IPR matters have been taken as the yardstick.

"The Judges of the HC have to work out ways and means for effective disposal of the IPR matters before it so that a model for disposal of civil suits can be culled out from the ways and means adopted by the Delhi High Court which can form the basis of a uniform action plan for the rest of the country," the bench said.
The top court also ordered registration of a suo motu writ petition titled as "ReCase Management of Original Suits." and directed the Registrar General of the HC to submit periodical reports of the work done in this regard.

"The first of such report should be filed within 60 days from today. At a later stage of the present proceedings, this court may also take the assistance of other High Courts in the country to resolve the issue," the court said.
The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by Aztech India and others against an interim order passed in a civil suit pending in the High Court.