Section 12

Examination of application

1 - When a request for examination has been made in respect of an application for a patent in the prescribed manner under sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) of section 11B, the application and specification and other documents related thereto shall be referred at the earliest by the Controller to an examiner for making a report to him in respect of the following matters, namely:

1(a) - whether the application and the specification and other documents relating thereto are in accordance with the requirements of this Act and of any rules made thereunder;

1(b) - whether there is any lawful ground of objection to the grant of the patent under this Act in pursuance of the application;

1(c) - the result of investigations made under section 13; and

1(d) - any other matter which may be prescribed.

2 - The examiner to whom the application and the specification and other documents relating thereto are referred under sub-section (1) shall ordinarily make the report to the Controller within such period as may be prescribed.