Section 66: Further procedure

Within two months or within such further period not exceeding two months in the aggregate from the receipt by a registered proprietor of the copy of the application mentioned in rule 65 from the Registrar, he shall send to the Registrar and to the person making the application on Form GI-2 a counterstatement in triplicate of the grounds on which the application is contested. The Registrar shall serve a copy of the counterstatement on the person making the application within one month of the receipt of the same. The provisions of rules 44 to 51 shall thereafter apply mutatis mutandis to the further proceedings on the application. The Registrar shall not, however, rectify the register or remove the geographical indication or any authorised user from the register merely because the registered proprietor or the authorised user has not filed a counterstatement unless he is satisfied that the delay in filing the counterstatement is wilful and is not justified by the circumstance of the case. In any case of doubt any party may apply to the Registrar for directions.