Section 20:
Special Provisions as to inventions.
(1) As from the commencement of this Act, no patents
shall be granted for inventions which in the opinion of the Central Government are useful for or relate to
the production, control, use or disposal of atomic energy or the prospecting, mining, extraction,
production, physical and chemical treatment, fabrication, enrichment, canning or use of any prescribed
substance or radioactive substance or the ensuring of safety in atomic energy operations.
(2) The prohibition under sub-section (1) shall also apply to any invention of the nature specified in
that sub-section in respect of which an application for the grant of a patent has been made to the
Controller of Patents and Designs appointed under the Indian Patents and Designs Act, 1911 (2 of 1911),
before the commencement of this Act and is pending with him at such commencement.
(3) The Central Government shall have the power to inspect at any time any pending patent
application and specification before its acceptance and if it considers that the invention relates to atomic
energy, to issue directions to the Controller of Patents and Designs to refuse the application on that
ground.
(4) Any person, who has made an invention which he has reason to believe relates to atomic energy,
shall communicate to the Central Government the nature and description of the invention.
(5) Any person desiring to apply for a patent abroad for an invention relating to or which he has
reason to believe relates to atomic energy shall obtain prior permission from the Central Government
before making the application abroad or communicating the invention to any person abroad, unless three
months have elapsed since his request for permission was made to the Central Government and no reply
was received by him.
(6) The Controller of Patents and Designs shall have the power to refer any application to the Central
Government for direction as to whether the invention is one relating to atomic energy and the direction
given by the Central Government shall be final.
(7) Any invention in the field of atomic energy conceived whether in establishments controlled by the
Central Government or under any contract, sub-contract, arrangement or other relationship with the
Central Government shall be deemed to have been made or conceived by the Central Government,
irrespective of whether such contract, sub-contract, arrangement or other relationship involves financial
participation of or assistance from the Central Government.
(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Patents and Designs Act, 1911 (2 of 1911), the
decision of the Central Government on points connected with or arising out of this section shall be final.