Mahatma off Mont Blanc nibs, SC told

International brand, Mont Blanc on Monday assured the Supreme Court it would not use the picture and name of Mahatma Gandhi on the nib of its limited edition pen for commercial purposes.

International brand, Mont Blanc on Monday assured the Supreme Court it would not use the picture and name of Mahatma Gandhi on the nib of its limited edition pen for commercial purposes.

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Mont Blanc Boutique and Mont Blanc International gave the undertaking before the bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and said it would now stop manufacturing the pen as the government had rejected the company’s plea to permit it to use Mahatma’s image. The plea was turned down in December last.

Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium said the government has also issued a notification with this regard after rejecting Mont Blanc’s application. He said the government would never permit the use of Mahatma’s name of picture for commercial purpose. “This is a national emblem and this cannot be used for commercial purpose,” the SG told the court and said the company should make an honest commitment that it won’t sell the pens anymore.

The company’s counsel told the court that it had given a similar undertaking before Kerala HC in February this year.