HC asks Centre to release funds for setting up IPAB office

The Delhi High Court today asked the Centre to release funds required by Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) for setting up its office in the national capital.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice S Mridul directed IPAB to apply, within two weeks, to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to determine the rate of rent applicable for the office space available in a building belonging to HUDCO at Bhikaji Cama place here.
CPWD is to carry out the rent determination within four weeks of receiving the application for the same from IPAB, which will thereafter enter into a rent-lease agreement with Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), the court said.

The court passed the order after it was told by the Indian arm of the Asian Patent Attorney Association (APAA) that two premises are available in the HUDCO building and one of them would be appropriate for the IPAB office.
APAA said that HUDCO was willing to give either of the premises on lease to IPAB.
Additional Solicitor General Rajeeve Mehra, appearing for the Centre, also concurred with the submission of APAA, which was represented by senior advocate Pratibha Singh.
APAA had moved the court in 2011 seeking setting up of permanent benches of IPAB in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.

Earlier, APAA had told the high court that as there was only one bench of IPAB, located at Chennai, and documents had to be transported to a circuit centre if a dispute arises there, it resulted in logistical delays.