The Registrar of GI, India Mr. P.H. Kurian vide its order dated 3rd June 2009 has delegated his powers as Registrar under GI Act 1999 to Shri GL Verma, Assistant Registrar except the power to head the Consultative Committee and handle issues covered by Chapter VI of the Act relating to rectification and cancellation of GI. The same is done under Section 3 (2) of the GI Act.
There is no power conferred upon the Registrar under GI Act to delegate the functions assigned to him. Section 3 (2) only empowers the Central Government to appoint additional employees under the superintendence and control of the Registrar to assist him.
The Role, powers and functions of the Registrar cannot be further delegated. This is an absolutely illegal order on the part of the Registrar.
I feel that such an illegal order shall further worsen the existing GI scenario in India. None of the GI in India has been judicially scrutinized till date. None of them is registered in conformity with the law.
It is going to be disastrous to the GI laws in India
