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Chapter XIII - Miscellaneous

Section 157

Section 157: Rule-making powers

The Central Government can make notified rules for carrying out the Act, subject to previous publication and Parliamentary control.

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This article is for general information. Refer to the Trade Marks Act, 1999 official text for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.

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Statutory text

Bare law

(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette and subject to the conditions of previous publication, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—

(i) the matters to be included in the Register of Trade Marks under sub-section (1) of section 6, and the safeguards to be observed in the maintenance of records on computer floppies or diskettes or in any other electronic form under sub-section (2) of that section;

(ii) the manner of publication of alphabetical index of classification of goods and services under sub-section (1) of section 8;

(iii) the manner in which the Registrar may notify a word as an international non-proprietary name under section 13;

(iv) the manner of making an application for dissolution of an association under sub-section (5) of section 16;

(v) the manner of making an application for registration of a trade mark under sub-section (1) of section 18;

(vi) the manner of advertising of an application for registration under sub-section (1), and the manner of notifying corrections or amendments under sub-section (2), of section 20;

(vii) the manner of giving a notice of opposition and the fee payable for such notice under sub-section (1) and sending counter-statement under sub-section (2) and submission of evidence and the time therefor under sub-section (4) of section 21;

(viii) the form of certificate of registration under sub-section (2), and the manner of giving notice to the applicant under sub-section (3) of section 23;

(ix) the forms of application for renewal and restoration the time within which such application is to be made and fee and surcharge if any payable with each application, under section 25 and the time within which the Registrar shall send a notice and the manner of such notice under sub-section (3) of that section;

(ixa) the time within which the international application is to be forwarded to the International Bureau and the manner of certifying the particulars by the Registrar under sub-section (4) of section 36D;

(ixb) the manner of keeping a record of particulars of an international registration under sub-section (1) of section 36E;

(ixc) the manner of informing the International Bureau under sub-section (2) of section 36E;

(ixd) the manner of advertising the international registration and the time within which the international registration shall be advertised under sub-section (3) of section 36E;

(x) the manner of submitting statement of cases under sub-section (2) of section 40;

(xi) the manner of making an application by the proprietor of a trade mark under section 41;

(xii) the manner of making an application for assignment or transmission of a certification trade mark under section 43;

(xiii) the manner of making an application to the Registrar to register title under sub-section (1) of section 45;

(xiiia) the period within which the Registrar shall dispose of an application under sub-section (3) of section 45;

(xiv) the manner in which and the period within which an application is to be made under sub-section (4) of section 46;

(xv) the manner of making an application under sub-section (2) of section 47;

(xvi) the manner of making an application, documents and other evidence to accompany such application under sub-section (1) and the manner in which notice is to be issued under sub-section (3) of section 49;

(xvii) the manner of making an application under sub-section (1), the manner of issuing a notice under sub-section (2) and the procedure for cancelling a registration under sub-section (3) of section 50;

(xviii) the manner of making applications under sub-sections (1) and (2), the manner of giving notice under sub-section (4) and the manner of service of notice of rectification under sub-section (5) of section 57;

(xix) the manner of making an application under section 58;

(xx) the manner of making an application under sub-section (1), the manner of advertising an application, time and manner of notice by which application may be opposed under sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 59;

(xxi) the manner of advertisement under sub-section (2) of section 60;

(xxii) the other matters to be specified in the regulations under sub-section (2) of section 63;

(xxiii) the manner of making an application under sub-section (1) of section 71;

(xxiv) the manner of advertising an application under section 73;

(xxv) the manner of making an application under section 77;

* * * * *

(xxix) the salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of, the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members under sub-section (1) of section 88;

(xxx) the procedure for investigation of misbehavior or incapacity of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members under sub-section (3) of section 89;

* * * * *

(xxxiii) the form in which and the particulars to be included in the application to the High Court under sub-section (1) of section 97;

(xxxiiia) the manner of holding inquiry and imposing penalty under Section 112A;

(xxxiiib) the form and manner of preferring appeal under sub-section (2) of Section 112B;

(xxxiv) the manner of making an application for review under clause (c) of section 127;

(xxxv) the time within which an application is to be made to the Registrar for exercising his discretionary power under section 128;

(xxxvi) the manner of making an application and the fee payable therefor under sub-section (1) of section 131;

(xxxvii) the manner of making an application under sub-section (1) and the period for withdrawal of such application under sub-section (2) of section 133;

(xxxviii) the manner of authorising any person to act and the manner of registration as a trade mark agent under section 145;

(xxxix) the conditions for inspection of documents under sub-section (1) and the fee payable for obtaining a certified copy of any entry in the register under sub-section (2) of section 148;

(xl) the fees and surcharge payable for making applications and registration and other matters under section 150;

(xli) any other matter which is required to be or may be prescribed.

(3) The power to make rules conferred by this section shall include the power to give retrospective effect in respect of the matters referred to in clauses (xxix) and (xxxi) of sub-section (2) from a date not earlier than the date of commencement of this Act, but no retrospective effect shall be given to any such rule so as to prejudicially affect the interests of any person to whom sub-rule may be applicable.

(4) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

Rule and business relevance

The detailed list includes filing, evidence, recordal, fees, Madrid procedures and the penalty-adjudication and appeal procedures. The consolidation also retains some historical tribunal-related references; those do not recreate omitted institutions or powers.

Limits and related provisions

This section enables rules and does not itself supply every current form, fee or timetable. Check the actual rule and amendment. The limited retrospective provision must be read with its stated subjects and protection against prejudicial effect.

Hypothetical business example

Hypothetical example: An applicant needs the current penalty-appeal form and checks rules made under the relevant enabling clause rather than inventing the form from the Act.

Practical decision flow

Identify the enabling subject and relevant current rule.

Check notification, amendments and commencement.

Apply the rule’s actual requirements and any statutory limits.

Applying the Act and current procedure

Read the statutory rule together with the applicable Trade Marks Rules, current Registry directions and the facts of the particular mark. Forms, fees and procedural requirements should be checked against their current official source before filing.

Practical checklist

Do

  • Identify the enabling subject and relevant current rule.
  • Check notification, amendments and commencement.
  • Apply the rule’s actual requirements and any statutory limits.

Avoid

  • This section enables rules and does not itself supply every current form, fee or timetable. Check the actual rule and amendment. The limited retrospective provision must be read with its stated subjects and protection against prejudicial effect.

Glossary

Previous publication
The publication condition attached to rule making.
Parliamentary control
The laying, modification and annulment process in subsection (4).

Frequently asked questions

Does the section itself state every filing fee?

No. It enables the rules that prescribe them.

Do retained old tribunal references restore the IPAB?

No. Read them with the current substantive amendments and omissions.

Can Parliamentary changes affect prior valid acts under a rule?

The closing savings preserve the validity of things previously done as stated.

Need help applying this provision to your situation?

Contact Bizeneed

Last updated 10 October 2026