NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday asked an Indian company to respond to Monsanto's plea challenging a Delhi High Court verdict holding that the American firm cannot claim a patent on its genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds.
Issuing the notice to Indian company Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd., a bench headed by Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman said that it would issue common notice and posted the matter for a preliminary hearing on July 18.
Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Monsanto told the court that it would continue to supply the Indian company but sought a stay on the high court order.
The apex court, however, refused to interfere with the high court order at this stage.