Rules 114 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rules 114 to 116 close Part II. Rule 114 lets a registered agent change the details in the Register of Geographical Indications Agents. Rule 115 requires the register to be published. Rule 116 provides an appeal against orders of the Registrar on agents, written around the Appellate Board that has since been abolished.
A registered agent may apply to alter his name, residence, principal place of business or qualifications in the register; the Registrar then makes the alteration and notifies it in the Journal. The register is published from time to time, and a complete list at least once in two years, in alphabetical order of surnames, with copies on sale. Rule 116 says an appeal lies to the Intellectual Property Appellate Board; that Board was abolished by the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, and the appeal route is now the High Court.
Where these rules sit
Rule 102 sets out what the register records; see our article on rules 102 and 103. Rules 111 to 113 deal with removal and restoration; see our article on rules 111 to 113. The Act's provision on agents is in our article on sections 74 to 76 of the GI Act.
Agents and their clients often keep track of these entries through legal consultation, especially before an appeal, since the forum has changed.
Rule 114(1): applying for alteration
"A registered Geographical Indications Agent may apply for alteration of his name, address of the place of residence, address of the principal place of business or qualifications entered in the Register of Geographical Indications Agent. On receipt of such application the Registrar shall cause the necessary alteration to be made in the Register of Geographical Indications Agent."
| Particular that may be altered | Allowed under rule 114(1) |
|---|---|
| Name | Yes |
| Address of the place of residence | Yes |
| Address of the principal place of business | Yes |
| Qualifications | Yes |
| Nationality | Not listed |
| Date of registration | Not listed |
Rule 102 lists six particulars in the register: name, residence address, principal place of business, nationality, qualifications and date of registration. Rule 114(1) permits an application for four of them. Nationality and date of registration are not on its list. The text does not say why, and the rules do not provide how a change in nationality is recorded; that is a silence, not a ruling.
On receipt of the application, the Registrar "shall cause the necessary alteration to be made". The word is "shall", and the rule does not say he may first test the claim. The rule does not name a form, a fee or a period. Entries 8A to 8D of the First Schedule as substituted in November 2025 cover application, certificate, continuance and restoration for agents; none is for alteration. The text is silent on a fee, so check the Registry before filing.
By contrast, the alteration of address for a registered proprietor or authorised user of a geographical indication has its own rule and form; see our article on rule 69.
Rule 114(2): notification
"Every alteration made in the Register of Geographical Indications Agents shall be notified in the Journal." This is the public record of the change. A client can look in the Journal to confirm an agent's current details.
Rule 115: publication of the register
"The Register of Geographical Indications Agents shall be published from time to time and a complete list thereof at least once in two years in the Geographical Indications Journal as the Registrar may deem fit, the entries being arranged in the alphabetical order of the surnames of the registered Geographical Indications Agent and copies thereof shall be placed on sale."
Reading it closely:
- From time to time: the register is published periodically.
- A complete list: at least once in two years, in the Journal.
- Order: alphabetical by surnames.
- Copies: placed on sale.
The phrase "as the Registrar may deem fit" is attached to the publication from time to time, and the two-year minimum for a complete list stands alongside it. The rule gives no price. Because publication can lag, an up-to-date check of an agent's standing should also use the notifications under rules 111(4) and 114(2).
Rule 116: appeal
"An appeal shall lie to Intellectual Property Appellate Board from any order or decision of the Registrar in regard to the registration of Geographical Indications Agents under Part II of these rules, and the decision of the Appellate Board shall be final and binding."
The Board was abolished by the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, and appeals under section 31 of the GI Act now lie to the High Court. The Rules have not been amended on this point. Read "High Court" where rule 116 says "Appellate Board", and do not treat the Board as a forum that exists. Our article on section 31 of the GI Act deals with appeals against the Registrar's orders, and our article on the abolition of the Appellate Board under the Trade Marks Act explains what replaced it for trade marks.
A few points follow from the printed text:
- Rule 116 covers "any order or decision of the Registrar in regard to the registration of Geographical Indications Agents under Part II". That includes refusal of registration, removal under rule 111 and refusal to recognise under rule 112.
- The words "final and binding" were written for the Board. Whether the same finality attaches to a High Court decision is a question for the Act and the court's rules, not for rule 116.
- The rule sets no time for the appeal. Rule 98 prints three months from receipt of the Registrar's decision for appeals generally; see our article on rules 98 to 101. Confirm the period that applies in the High Court before relying on it.
Who is affected
- Registered agents, who should keep their entry current and know their appeal route.
- Persons refused registration or removed, who need to identify the forum and period.
- Clients, who can read the published register and Journal notifications.
An example
Advocate Sunil Kapoor, a registered agent, moves his office and completes a further qualification. He applies under rule 114(1) to alter his principal place of business and qualifications, and the Registrar makes the alteration and notifies it in the Journal. Later, the Registrar removes him for an alleged disability, and Sunil wishes to challenge the order. Rule 116 as printed names the Appellate Board, but since the Board no longer exists, his advisers file in the High Court under section 31 and confirm the period for doing so.
What the rules do not say
- No form, fee or period is stated for alteration.
- No price is stated for copies of the register.
- Rule 116 does not set a period or a procedure for appeal.
Amendments made after November 2025 should be checked before acting.
Need help with an agent's appeal?
Because rule 116 names a forum that has been abolished, the first task is to confirm where and when to appeal. Our legal consultation team can review the Registrar's order, confirm the forum and period and advise on the next step.
Key takeaways
- Rule 114: a registered agent may apply to alter name, residence, principal place of business or qualifications; the Registrar shall make the alteration and notify it in the Journal.
- Nationality and date of registration are not on the list of alterable particulars.
- Rule 115: the register is published from time to time, with a complete list at least once in two years, alphabetical by surname, copies on sale.
- Rule 116 names the Intellectual Property Appellate Board, which was abolished by the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021; appeals now lie to the High Court.
- The rules do not state a fee or period for alteration or for appeal.
- No entry in the First Schedule covers alteration of an agent's details.
Read next
- Rules 111 to 113: removal, refusal to recognise and restoration of GI agents
- Rules 102 and 103: register of GI agents and existing trade marks agents
- Section 31 of the GI Act: appeals to the High Court
- Rules 98 to 101: time for appeal, certificate of validity, exhibits and records
Disclaimer: Based on the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Rules, 2002 as notified on 8 March 2002 and as amended by the Amendment Rules of 2020 (G.S.R. 528(E)) and 2025 (G.S.R. 812(E)), as consulted on 2 October 2026. Later amendment rules, forms and fees should be checked in their current form. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.