(I) The "appropriate office of the Geographical Indications Registry" for the purposes of making an application for registration of a geographical indication under section 11(1) or registration as an authorised user under section 17(1) or for giving notice of opposition under sub-section (1) of section 14 or sub-section (3)(e) of Section 17, as the case may be or for filing an application for rectification under section 27 or for any other proceedings under the Act and the rules shall be – in relation to a geographical indication for which an application for registration is made on or after the notified date, the office of the Geographical Indications Registry within whose territorial limits - i) the principal place of business in India of the applicant as disclosed in his application or, in the case of an association of persons or producers the principal place of business in India of the applicant whose name is first mentioned in the application, as having such place of business is situate;
ii) where neither the applicant nor any of the association of persons or producers, as the case may be, has a principal place of business in India, the place mentioned in the address for service in India as specified in the application is situate.
3
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1) all applications, communications, documents or fee authorised or required by the Act or the rules to be sent, served, left or paid shall be sent or paid at or to the Head Office of the Registry notified by the Central Government initially and subsequently at the appropriate office as and when notified,.