Bhubaneswar: Whilst the Geographical Indication (GI) tag grant to Odisha Rasagola was perceived as happy ending to the battle between Odisha and West Bengal over the syrupy sweet’s origin, the latter might lose the title awarded to it for Banglar Rasogolla.

Chennai-based Geographical Indication Registry has directed West Bengal State Food Processing & Horticulture Development Corporation Limited, Patent Information Centre, Department of Higher Education Science & Technology and the petitioner Ramesh Chandra Sahoo to appear before it on September 6 for hearing.

“I am directed to inform that Geographical Indication application (N0 533) is fixed for hearing on September 6, 2019 (Friday) at 11.30 hours before honourable Registrar of GI at its Chennai office. In event of non-appearance, the case will be decided as per GI Act & Rules based on the documents available with the office,” said Prashanth Kumar S Bhairappanavar, Senior Examiner of Trademarks & GI, Geographical Indication Registry, Chennai.

This is the first hearing after the petitioner filed a rectification/removal petition on Feb 13 last year.

Speaking to OST, Santosh Kumar Sahoo, Editor of Odia Parba, who had filled a PIL in Orissa High Court seeking stay order said, “We demand cancellation of the GI tag given to Banglar Rasogolla as West Bengal has obtained the status fraudulently by submitting fake documents. As we challenged the decision, the GI Registry has awarded GI tag to Odisha to put a lid over the discontentment.”

The GI Registry recently granted the much-awaited status to ‘Odisha Rasagola’, reaffirming Odisha’s claim that the sweetmeat existed since 15^th -16^th century as it has been mentioned in the ‘Dandi Ramayana’.

While majority dubbed it as a sweet end to the long-drawn battle between the two states, the petition challenging the GI status to Banglar Rasogola is all set to put the neighbouring state on a sticky wicket.