Subject to the provisions of rule 7, in an exceptional case where any application, statement or other document or any fee authorised or required by the Act or the rules is made, served, left or sent or paid, at or to an office inadvertently which is not the appropriate office of the Geographical Indications Registry as and when such an office is notified under this Act by the Central Government under sub-rule 2 of rule 4, the Registrar may on a written request return such application, statement or document to the appropriate office if he is satisfied that it was a bonafide error on the part of the applicant in such cases:
Provided the period for which such application, or statement or document is retained by the office which is not the appropriate office shall be excluded for the purposes of computing the period of limitation where any of such application, statement or document is required to be presented within the prescribed period.
Provided before declining any such request the Registrar shall provide an opportunity of being heard.