The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Monsanto Technology to claim patent on its genetically-modified cotton seeds, giving a boost to firms developing new seed technologies.
“The order of the Division Bench is set aside. The order of the single judge dated March 28, 2017, is restored and the suit is remanded to the learned single judge for disposal in accordance with law,” Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman and Navin Sinha said in their judgment on Tuesday.
The court’s order came in a case filed in 2015 by Monsanto, through its Indian subsidiary Monsanto Mahyco Biotechnology Ltd, against Nuziveedu Seeds and its subsidiaries for selling Bt cotton seeds using its patented technology despite termination of a licence agreement. In its appeal in the apex court, Monsanto argued that the HC order would be an impediment to the entry of new technology in the farm sector as technology developers will lose pricing freedom.
“We welcome the judgment. We will study the same in detail,” said a Bayer spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch has said it would ask the government to amend the patent laws to forbid companies like Monsanto from charging a royalty.
A consortium of seed companies, on the other hand, welcomed the verdict
This news has not been edited by Apni Kheti staff and this news has been published by various feeds.
Source: Punjabi Tribune