COMMENTARY
INTERVIEWS
SPECIALS
CHAT
ARCHIVES

Govt taking 'necessary steps' to challenge basmati patent of US

Attorney General Soli J Sorabjee has informed the Supreme Court that the government was taking necessary steps to challenge the patent of basmati rice granted by the United States of America's authority in an appropriate forum.

He submitted before a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice A S Anand, Justice V N Khare and Justice M Srinivasan on Monday that two legislations -- Bio-Diversity Bill and Geographical Indication Bill -- were in the process of finalisation to protect piracy in genetic material in the agricultural field.

Sorabjee also stated that the Plant Variety and Farmers' Rights Protection Bill was likely to be introduced during the winter session of Parliament.

He said various steps required for amendment of the Patents Act were also under active consideration of the government.

Sorabjee was making submissions during the hearing of a public interest petition filed by the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology, bringing to the court's notice the need to protect the bio-diversity of the country and seeking a direction to the government to challenge the patent of the basmati rice in the USA.

Sorabjee said that the government was fully alive to the situation and its gravity and importance. The government was taking steps in the interest of the nation.

The court said in view of the statement of the attorney general, the petitioner who had moved the court to activise the government on the issue, stood achieved. Nothing more is required to be done in the matter and the petition was accordingly disposed of.

UNI

Business news