Limitation of prosecution. 118. No prosecution for an offence under this Act or under clause (b) of section 112 of the Customs Act, 1962, 52 of 1962. relating to confiscation of goods under clause (d) of section 111 and notified by the Central Government under clause (n) of sub-section (2) of section 11 of the said Act for the protection of trade marks, relating to import of goods shall be commenced after expiration of three years next after the commission of the offence charged, or two years after the discovery thereof by the prosecutor, whichever expiration first-happens.
Information as to commission of offence. 119. An officer of the Government whose duty it is to take part in the enforcement of the provisions of this Chapter shall not be compelled in any court to say whence he got any information as to the commission of any offence against this Act.
Punishment of abetment in India of acts done out of India. 120. If any person, being within India, abets the commission, without India, of any act which, if committed in India, would, under this Act, be an offence, he may be tried for such abetment in any place in India in which he may be found, and be punished therefor with the punishment to which he would be liable if he had himself committed in that place the act which he abetted.
Instructions of Central Government as to permissible variation to be observed by criminal courts. 121. The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, issue Instructions for the limits of variation, as regards number, quantity, measure, gauge or weight which are to be recognised by criminal courts as permissible In the case of any goods.
CHAPTER XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Protection of action taken in good faith. 122. No suit or other legal prceedings shall lie against any person in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act.
Certain persons to be public servants. 123. Every person appointed under this Act and every Member of the Appellate Board shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code. 45 of 1860.
Stay of proceedings where the validity of the registration of the trade mark is questioned, etc. 124. (1) Where in any suit for infringement of a trade mark—
(a) the defendant pleads that registration of the plaintiff’s trade mark is invalid;
or
(b) the defendant raises a defence under clause (e) of sub-section (2) of section 30 and the plaintiff pleads the invalidity of registration of the defendant’s trade mark,
the court trying the suit (hereinafter referred to as the court), shall,—
(i) if any proceedings for rectification of the register in relation to the plaintiff’s or defendant’s trade mark are pending before the Registrar or the Appellate Board, stay the suit pending the final disposal of such proceedings;
(ii) if no such proceedings are pending and the court is satisfied that the plea regarding the invalidity of the registration of the plantiffs or defendant’s trade mark is prima facie tenable, raise an issue regarding the same and adjourn the case for a period of three months from the date of the framing of the issue in order to enable the party concerned to apply to the Appellate Board for rectification of the register.
(2) If the party concerned proves to the court that he has made any such application as is referred to in clause (b) (ii) of sub-section (1) within the time specified therein or within such extended time as the court may for sufficient cause allow, the trial of the suit shall stand stayed until the final disposal of the rectification proceedings.
