High Court stays restoration of Monsanto agreements with Nuziveedu Seeds

Order grants interim relief to Monsanto; both parties told to file submissions supporting their case

The Delhi High Court on Monday stayed a single-judge order restoring the sub-license agreements between Monsanto Technology LLC and Nuziveedu Seeds Limited for use of the American biotechnology major’s patented Bt cotton technology by the Indian seed manufacturer.

A division bench of Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Justice Yogesh Khanna passed the interim order in favour of Monsanto on an appeal against a March 28 order, which had held that the termination of its sub-license agreements with Nuziveedu was illegal and arbitrary in nature. In support of Monsanto’s claim, senior advocate Kapil Sibal on Monday said that the single