India-Pakistan showdowns, whether in sports or political
relations, are always newsworthy. This time there was a change in
the battleground and the reason for the showdown was the claim over
'BASMATI' rice as Geographical Indication (GI) by both the
countries. The Indian body Agricultural and Processed Food Products
Export Development Authority ('APEDA') filed an application
for protection of BASMATI rice as a GI for certain regions in India
this, was opposed by the Basmati Growers Association, Pakistan
(BGA).
A notice of opposition was served upon APEDA and accordingly the
due procedure of filing counterstatement to opposition; following
which, the BGA was directed by the Assistant Registrar of
Geographical Indications to file evidence in support of opposition.
There was a delay on behalf of BGA in filing the evidence in
support of opposition, this fact was admitted by BGA itself. The
APEDA filed an interlocutory petition contending that BGA had not
filed the
