Page:Patents Act 1970 (India).pdf/29

 question except on the ground of fraud.

(3) In construing the specification as amended, reference may be made to the specification as originally accepted. CHAPTER XI RESTORATION OF LAPSED PATENTS

60. Applications for restorations of lapsed patents

(1) Where a patent has ceased to have effect by reason of failure to pay any renewal fee within the prescribed period or within that period as extended under sub-section (3) of section 53, the patentee or his legal representative, and where the patent was held by two or more persons jointly, then, with the leave of the Controller, one or more of them without joining the others, may, within one year from the date on which the patent ceased to have effect, make an application for the restoration of the patent.

(2) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall also apply to patents granted before the commencement of this Act, subject to the modification that for the reference to the prescribed period or to sub-section (3) of section 53, there shall be substituted a reference to the period prescribed therefor under the Indian Patents and Designs Act, 1911 or to subsection (2) of section 14 of that Act.

(3) An application under this section shall contain a statement, verified in the prescribed manner, fully setting out the circumstances which led to the failure to pay the prescribed fee, and the Controller may require from the applicant such further evidence as he may think necessary.

61. Procedure for disposal of applications for restoration of lapsed patents

(1) If, after hearing the applicant in cases where the applicant so desires or the Controller thinks fit, the Controller is prima facie satisfied that the failure to pay the renewal fee was unintentional and that there has been no undue delay in the making of the application,he shall advertise the application in the prescribed manner; and within the prescribed period any person interested may give notice to the Controller of opposition thereto on either or both of the following grounds, that is to say,
 * a. that the failure to pay the renewal fee was not unintentional; or
 * b. that there has been undue delay in the making of the application.

(2) If notice of opposition is given within the period aforesaid, the Controller shall notify the applicant, and shall give to him and to the opponent an opportunity to be heard before he decides the case.

(3) If no notice of opposition is given within the period aforesaid or if in the case of opposition, the decision of the Controller is in favour of the applicant, the Controller shall, upon payment of any unpaid renewal fee and such additional fee as may be prescribed, restore the patent and any patent of addition specified in the application which has ceased to have effect on the cesser of that patent.

(4) The Controller may, if he thinks fit as a condition of restoring the patent, require that an entry shall be made in the register of any document or matter which, under the provisions of this Act, has to be entered in the register but which has not been so entered.

62. Rights of Patentees of lapsed patents which have been restored.

(1) Where a patent is restored, the rights of the patentee shall be subject to such