TMI Blog2003 (9) TMI 131X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... not leviable prior to 28-9-1996. The learned Counsel submits that Board has issued a circular subsequently on 26-6-2002 clarifying that interest under Section 11AB is not chargeable prior to the period 28-9-1996. In view of the Board's Circular, we do not find any merit in the Department's appeal (E/785/02) and we dismiss the same. 2. Now we take up the appeal (No. E/705/02) filed by M/s. General Pharma Ltd. The issue involves interpretation of paragraph 4 of the small-scale exemption Notification No. 1/93, dated 28-2-1993. The said Paragraph 4 reads as under :- "The exemption contained in this notification shall not apply to the specified goods, bearing a brand name or trade name (registered or not) of another person." The related Ex ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... manufacturing the products except Noigen and they are not using these brand names. In view of such non-use, Dai Ichi is no longer the owner of the said brand name. Further in view of the honest and continued/concurrent use of the brand name, the appellants become owners of the said brand names under Section 12(3) of the Trade Marks Act. Further, Dai Ichi has indirectly acquiesced the right over these brand names. The learned Counsel also contends that this Tribunal can decide as to who is the owner of the brand name applying the provisions of the Trade Marks Act. (2) The demand is not sustainable on the ground of limitation as the show cause notice dated 30-2-2000 was received by the appellants on 1-4-2000 and covers duty demand ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e case of Prince Valves Industry v. CCE, Chandigarh-II - 2003 (154) E.L.T. 220 (T) = 2003 (54) RLT 724 (CEGAT - Del.) to support the Department's case that the brand names are owned by the Dai Ichi and that the continued use of the same by the appellants does not entitle them to the benefit of exemption. On the question of limitation, he submits that the appellants never disclosed to the Department that they were using the brand names of Dai Ichi and therefore extended time of limitation is applicable on the ground of suppression. 6. After hearing both sides and perusal of case records and cited case laws, we are of the opinion that the excise authorities are not required to make a determination regarding ownership of the brand names unde ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... as the materials on record clearly show that the appellants were aware regarding the ownership of the impugned brand names by Dai Ichi. It is also on record that the Managing Director of the appellant-company in his statement admitted that they were using the brand name of M/s. Dai Ichi in which his wife Smt S.P. Vakil is the Managing Director and that they were using these brand names of M/s. Dai Ichi as these were already popular in the market. The appellants have cited the Apex Court decision in the case of P B Pharmaceuticals (supra) to the effect that there was no obligation on the owner of a brand name to make a roving inquiry as to whether any other person is using the brand name and disclose it to the authorities to avert a possi ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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