159. Power of Central Government to make rules
(1) The Central Government may, by Gazette notification, make rules for carrying out the purposes of the Act.
(2) Without prejudice to that general power, rules may be made on matters including: the form and manner of filing applications, specifications and other documents; time periods for statements, undertakings, deposit of biological materials, publication, examination and requests for examination/withdrawal; fees and manner/time of payment; matters for examiners’ reports; procedure for disposing of representations under section 25(1) and applications under section 39; form, manner and timing of notices; provisions protecting persons who used a lapsed patent’s subject matter before restoration; establishment of branch patent offices and regulation of patent office business; maintenance of the register of patents (including in electronic form) and its contents; the Controller’s civil-court powers; inspection of the register and other documents; qualifications and roll of scientific advisers; manner of paying compensation for Government acquisition of an invention; manner of holding inquiries and imposing penalties under section 124A, and form/manner of appeals under section 124B; maintenance of the register of patent agents, conduct of qualifying examinations, and disciplinary proceedings against agents; regulation of indexes, abridgments and their inspection; and any other prescribable matter.
(3) Rule-making is subject to prior publication, unless the Central Government is satisfied circumstances make this impracticable.
