Kochi: Swiss luxury giant Mont Blanc
on Tuesday tendered an unconditional apology in the Kerala High
Court on the issue of sale of its high-end Mahatma Gandhi
edition pens, saying it did not intend to hurt the sentiments
of any citizen.
Mont Blanc Simplo GmBH also gave an undertaking before
a division bench that the limited edition pens, each of which
cost Rs 14 lakh, would not be sold until further orders.
The Bench comprising acting Chief Justice P R Raman
and Justice C N Ramachandran Nair was hearing a PIL filed by
Dijo Kappan complaining that sale of pen in the name of Gandhi
violates the provisions of Emblems and Names (Prevention of
Improper Use) Act, 1950.
The company said they were tendering an
"unconditional" apology if the sentiments of any of the
citizen had been hurt.
The bench directed the company to file a further
affidavit incorporating the assurance given to the court.
In the counter affidavit filed by Marc Frisanco,
authorised signatory of the company, it claimed that they have
a long history of supporting charitable causes as well as the
heritage and importance of iconic historical figures from art
and culture to world leaders in different platforms.
It was further stated that they would be donating USD
nine lakh to charitable institutions in India especially those
recommended by Gandhi`s great grandson Tushar Gandhi.
The company submitted it had no intention of violating
the provisions of the Act.
Mont Blanc said they were under the erroneous
impression that permission from the central government was not
required for bringing out the limited edition pens.
They had no intention of using Gandhi`s name or
picture as part of the trade, it said.
The company sought a direction to the central
government to regularise use of Gandhi`s name and picture on
the pen.
Earlier, Mont Blanc`s request was rejected by the
Central government on December 20 last year.
PTI
