3.1.3 Right to oral proceedings before a division in the composition in which it takes the final decision

In T 2020/20 the board clarified that the right to oral proceedings under Art. 116(1) EPC could only mean a right to have oral proceedings before the examining division in a composition which also takes the final decision on the case. If the division conducting the oral proceedings could be different from that taking the final decision, oral proceedings would be deprived of their purpose and Art. 116(1) EPC would be meaningless. See also chapters III.K.1.1. "General comments on changes in composition of the competent departments of first instance", III.K.1.2. "Examining division", III.K.3.3.2 "Examples of invalid or missing signatures" and III.B.2.9.2 "Composition change after oral proceedings".