- (1.) There are two respondents in this appeal. Insofar as Respondent 1 M/s Vikshara Trading & Investment Pvt. Ltd. is concerned, the Tribunal has fully discussed the matter and decided the case. Insofar as Respondent 2 M/s. Dhanvi Trading & Investments Pvt. Ltd. is concerned, there is hardly any reference to the facts of the case in the course of the order of the Tribunal. Therefore, the order made by the Tribunal cannot be made applicable to M/s. Dhanvi Trading & Investments Pvt. Ltd. at all. In that view of the matter the order made by the Tribunal insofar as M/s Dhanvi Trading & Investments Pvt. Ltd. is concerned, is set aside and the matter shall stand remitted to the Tribunal for fresh consideration in accordance with law. The appeal is allowed in respect of Respondent 2.
(2.) So far as M/s Vikshara Trading & Investment Pvt. Ltd. is concerned, the only question raised before us is that originally the trade mark had been registered by one Shri Shantilal P. Jain and Subodh S. Shah of Calcutta in respect of a certain detergent and they had assigned the same in favour of M/s CMC (India) Pvt. Ltd. Subsequently the same was reassigned to M/s Vikshara Trading & Investment Pvt. Ltd.
(3.) The contention put forth before the Tribunal as well as before us is that no document has been shown that the subsequent assignment in favour of M/s Vikshara Trading & Investment Pvt. Ltd. was registered as contemplated under the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958. This aspect was taken note of by the Tribunal that the trade mark need not necessarily be in respect of all goods unless registration has been so acquired and it is therefore, permissible in law to have same brand name for different classes of goods owned by different persons, and in that background found in favour of the respondent and held that Notification No. 223/87-CE dated 22.9.1987 was applicable. When as a matter of fact it is held that there was an assignment in favour of the first respondent and that fact was not in serious dispute, the mere fact that the assignment was not registered could not alter the position. Therefore, we decline to interfere with the order made by the Tribunal and to that extent the appeal is dismissed in respect of Respondent 1. Civil Appeal No. 870 of 2000;