Interestingly, I had interviewed Dev Karar some years back for a paper that I was doing on the Indian patent office, using the backdrop of the Dimminaco decision–a case where the patent office had refused a patent on a biotechnology process, on the grounds that it involved “living” matter–the Kolkatta High Court reversed the decision of the patent office, holding that nothing in the Indian patent regime foreclosed the possibility of patenting “living matter”. Mr Karar gave me some very insightful comments then–since then he has risen through the ranks and is now heading the Delhi patent office. I’m sure that we will have a well reasoned decision in India’s first Doha CL case.
Anyway, for those interested in the Dimminaco decision (which boosted biotech patenting in India) and the broader aspects of how patent decisions are made in India, see the paper here titled “Policy Style Reasoning at the Indian Patent Office.”
Dear Shamnad,
I sincerely wish and to an extent believe – though this is first of its kind in India – that a real good decision would be given on this issue.
Incidentally, the name of the Assistant Controller you referred to is Mr. Hardev Karar.
Bapi