The Atomic Energy Act,1962
20. Special Provisions as to inventions.
(1) As from the commencement of this Act, no patents shall be granted for inventions which in the opinion of the Central Government are useful for or relate to the production, control, use or disposal of atomic energy or the prospecting, mining, extraction, production, physical and chemical treatment, fabrication, enrichment, canning or use of any prescribed substance or radioactive substance or the ensuring of safety in atomic energy operations.
(2) The prohibition under sub-section (1) shall also apply to any invention of the nature specified in that sub-section in respect of which an application for the grant of a patent has been made to the Controller of Patents and Designs appointed under the Indian Patents and Designs Act,1911(2 of 1911), before the commencement of this Act and is pending with him at such commencement.
(3) The Central Government shall have the power to inspect at any time any pending patent application and specification before its acceptance and if it considers that the invention relates to atomic energy, to issue directions to the Controller of Patents and Designs to refuse the application on that ground.
(4) Any person, who has made an invention which he has reason to believe relates to atomic energy, shall communicate to the Central Government the nature and description of the invention.
(5) Any person desiring to apply for a patent abroad for an invention relating to or which he has reason to believe relates to atomic energy shall obtain prior permission from the Central Government before making the application abroad or communicating the invention to any person abroad, unless three months have elapsed since his request for permission was made to the Central Government and no reply was received by him.
(7) Any invention in the field of atomic energy conceived whether in establishments controlled by the Central Government or under any contract, sub-contract, arrangement or other relationship with the Central Government shall be deemed to have been made or conceived by the Central Government, irrespective of whether such contract, sub-contract, arrangement or other relationship involves financial participation of or assistance from the Central Government.
(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Patents and Designs Act,1911(2 of 1911), the decision of the Central Government on points connected with or arising out of this section shall be final.
