As directed by the Supreme Court of India on 10 July 2012, the petition filed by Novartis AG,
challenging the Intellectual Property Appellate Board’s rejection of its appeal against the
Indian Patent Office’s refusal to grant it a patent for the beta-crystalline form of imatinib
mesylate, and related matters were listed today before a bench comprising Justice Aftab Alam
and Justice Ranjana Desai. The case has now been re-scheduled to 11 September 2012.
In July 2012 itself, when Novartis sought an adjournment on account of the unavailability of
one of its counsel, the Court had indicated that it could not be certain about its schedule
and had informed the parties that, while the matter would be listed on 22 August 2012, it was
not certain if final hearing would commence on 22 August 2012.
As the day progressed, it became evident that the hearing of the matter listed at item no. 1
(a case that was already part-heard and relating to collection of voice sample vis-à-vis the
fundamental right against self-incrimination) would continue today and tomorrow.
Therefore, when the Court reconvened after lunch, Novartis’ counsel mentioned the matter to
ascertain when the final hearing of the Novartis matter would commence.
Alluding to the objections regarding maintainability of Novartis’
petition before the Supreme Court, Mr. Gopal Subramaniam, senior counsel appearing for
Novartis, said that Novartis would argue both the issue of maintainability of its special
leave petition as well as the merits of the case and that Novartis would take three days to
argue the matter.
After ascertaining the court’s schedule and the convenience of the counsel arguing for all
parties, the matter has now finally been re-scheduled to 11 September 2012 for final hearing.
The matters will be listed at item no. 1 on the causelist on 11 September 2012.
In solidarity,
Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS Unit
kracktivist 