Section 31 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.
Section 31 gives any person aggrieved by an order or decision of the Registrar an appeal to the High Court within three months of the date the order or decision is communicated. An appeal filed late can be admitted only if the appellant shows sufficient cause. Chapter VII is now headed "Appeals". If you have received an adverse order on your application, opposition or renewal, the three-month clock is the first thing to check, and a legal dispute resolution team can help you prepare.
Any person aggrieved by an order or decision of the Registrar under the Act, or under the rules, may appeal to the High Court within three months from the date the order or decision is communicated to him. No appeal is to be admitted after three months, unless the appellant satisfies the High Court that he had sufficient cause for not appealing in time. Sub-section (3) on the form, verification, accompanying documents and fees of the appeal has been omitted.
What changed in 2021
The principal text of section 31 is headed "Appeals to the Appellate Board", and Chapter VII was headed "Appeals to the Appellate Board". The Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 made these changes:
- the Chapter VII heading is substituted by "APPEALS";
- in section 31, "Appellate Board" is replaced by "High Court" wherever it occurs; and
- section 31(3) is omitted.
Before the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, the appeal lay to the Appellate Board, and sub-section (3) required the appeal to be in the prescribed form, verified in the prescribed manner, and accompanied by a copy of the order and the prescribed fees. Sections 32 and 33 (bar of jurisdiction and procedure of the Appellate Board) and section 36 (costs of the Registrar before the Appellate Board) were also omitted. This article states the section as it now reads.
Sub-section (1): the right of appeal
"Any person aggrieved by an order or decision of the Registrar under this Act, or the rules made thereunder, may prefer an appeal to the High Court within three months from the date on which the order or decision sought to be appealed against is communicated to such person preferring the appeal."
| Element | Text |
|---|---|
| Who | "Any person aggrieved" |
| From what | "an order or decision of the Registrar under this Act, or the rules made thereunder" |
| To whom | The High Court |
| Period | Three months from the date on which the order or decision is communicated to the person preferring the appeal |
Points to note:
- Any person aggrieved. The applicant, an opponent, a proprietor or an authorised user can all be aggrieved by a Registrar's order. The text does not define the term.
- Orders and decisions under the Act or the rules. The right is wide: it is not limited to refusal of registration. It includes decisions on opposition (section 14(5)), withdrawal of acceptance (section 12), alteration (section 29), and so on.
- Time runs from communication, not from the date of the order. The period starts "from the date on which the order or decision ... is communicated to such person preferring the appeal". The text does not address what happens if the order is never communicated.
- Officers' orders. Under section 2(3)(d), a reference to the Registrar includes an officer discharging the Registrar's functions under section 3(2). An order made by such an officer is therefore an order of the Registrar for this purpose.
Example. The Registrar refuses the Hilltop Weavers' Cooperative's application and records the grounds in writing under section 11(7). The order is communicated to the cooperative on 10 March. The cooperative may appeal to the High Court within three months from 10 March.
Sub-section (2): the bar on late appeals and its proviso
"No appeal shall be admitted if it is preferred after the expiry of the period specified under sub-section (1):"
"Provided that an appeal may be admitted after the expiry of the period specified therefore, if the appellant satisfies the High Court that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within the specified period."
The general rule is a hard stop at three months. The proviso is the only relief: the appellant must satisfy the High Court that he had sufficient cause. The text does not define sufficient cause and sets no outer limit for late appeals.
Section 8(4) calls the Registrar's decision on class and area "final". The printed text does not reconcile that with section 31(1); see Section 8.
Sub-section (3): omitted
Sub-section (3) has been omitted by the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021. The text we consulted contains the original wording (the prescribed form, verification, copy of the order and fees), but it is no longer part of the section. The form and manner of an appeal to the High Court are therefore for the High Court's own procedure, and the Act does not say more. We state no form or fee.
What happens to the old provisions
| Provision | Position |
|---|---|
| Section 31(1), (2) | In force, with "High Court" substituted for "Appellate Board" |
| Section 31(3) | Omitted |
| Section 32 (bar of jurisdiction of courts) | Omitted |
| Section 33 (procedure of the Appellate Board) | Omitted |
| Section 36 (costs of the Registrar before the Appellate Board) | Omitted |
| Sections 34 and 35 | In force, with "High Court" substituted |
For sections 34 and 35, see Sections 34 and 35.
Where appeals fit in the process
| Stage | Decision-maker | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Examination: refusal or conditional acceptance (s.11) | Registrar | Appeal to the High Court within three months |
| Opposition decision (s.14(5)) | Registrar | Appeal to the High Court within three months |
| Other Registrar orders (ss.12, 18, 28, 29, etc.) | Registrar | Appeal to the High Court within three months |
The text of section 31 does not list the orders that can be appealed; the general words "an order or decision of the Registrar under this Act" apply. See also GI registration process: application to certificate.
Practical points
- Diarise on receipt. The three months run from communication; note the date the order reached you.
- Do not wait. Late appeals need sufficient cause and may be refused.
- Keep the order. Section 31(3) is gone, but the High Court will want the order or decision appealed against; check the High Court's own requirements.
- Appeal and rectification are different. Rectification under section 27 can be applied for before the High Court or the Registrar; an appeal under section 31 is from a Registrar's decision.
What the section does not say
- It does not state a form, verification or fee after the omission of sub-section (3).
- It does not say which High Court; the text is silent.
- It does not say whether a further appeal lies from the High Court's decision.
- It does not say whether a stay follows an appeal.
Need help with an appeal?
The three-month window is short and the High Court's own procedure now governs the form. Our team can review the Registrar's order and prepare the appeal through legal dispute resolution.
Key takeaways
- Any person aggrieved by an order or decision of the Registrar may appeal to the High Court within three months from communication (s.31(1)).
- Late appeals are admitted only on sufficient cause (s.31(2) proviso).
- Before the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 the appeal lay to the Appellate Board; sub-section (3) (form, verification, fees) is omitted.
- Sections 32, 33 and 36 are omitted.
Read next
- Sections 34 and 35: rectification applications before the High Court
- Section 27: power to cancel or vary registration and rectify the register
- Section 37: meaning of applying geographical indications
- GI registration process: application to certificate
Disclaimer: Based on the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 read with the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, as consulted on 1 October 2026. Forms, fees and procedure are set by the rules made under the Act. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.