Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) sets-aside penalty on Jungle Boot suppliers for alleged bid rigging for supplies to Paramilitary Forces, State Police, Railways, etc.

COMPAT by its order dated April 12, 2016 has set-aside the penalty imposed on suppliers of Polyester Blended Duck Ankle Boot Rubber Sole (Jungle Boots) against allegations of bid-rigging. The suppliers have been engaged in the  supply of jungle boots to the Armed Forces under the rate contracts awarded by the  Director General (Supplies and…

COMPAT upholds CCI order dismissing abuse of dominance allegation against Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL)-

COMPAT by its order dated April 12, 2016 has upheld order of CCI which had dismissed allegations of abuse of dominance by DIAL in charging licence fee from airlines using the space allotted to them at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. The Information was filed in CCI by Airline Operators Committee alleging abuse of…

CCI Order refusing interim relief against OLA Cabs in an ongoing investigation upheld by COMPAT

Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT)  by its order dated March 09, 2016 has upheld the CCI order dated September 03, 2015 refusing to grant interim injunction against allegations of predatory pricing in an ongoing investigation against M/s ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Ola Cabs). In a case filed by Fast Track Call cabs , alleging predatory pricing…

Competition Commission of India (CCI) to investigate global hybrid seeds giant Monsanto for abuse of dominance in relation to alleged excessive and discriminatory royalties for Bt cotton seeds-

Comment- This CCI order raises an important issue which places the manner of enforcement of intellectual property rights in India vis-à-vis the competition law under question. The CCI order gives a prima facie impression as if the CCI is entering into the domain of fixation of royalties for sub-licensing of Bt. cotton seed patents, but…

Central Government notifies revised thresholds for Merger Control and extends Exemptions

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Govt. of India has made important revisions to the merger control regime in India. The following three Notifications were published in the Gazette of India on March 4, 2016. THRESHOLDS FOR NOTIFICATION REVISED– Through the first Notification, the Central Government has increased thresholds, both assets and turnover, for any transaction…

COMPAT upholds order of CCI closing bid-rigging case against railway suppliers of Axle Mounted Disk Braking System (ADBMS)-

Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) by its order dated February 17, 2016 has upheld the order of CCI closing the case for bid-rigging for supply of  Axle Mounted Disk Braking System (ADBMS) to Indian Railways. In the instant  case, the investigation related to quoting of identical prices in three emergency purchase tenders by the opposite parties, M/s…

CCI approves acquisition of 49.86% stake in Sabarmati Gas Limited(SGL) by PSU petroleum companies –

CCI, by its order dated February 10, 2016, has approved acquisition of 49.86% stake in SGL by Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited (“GSPC”); Gujarat State Petronet Limited (“GSPL”); and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (“BPCL”).The stake proposed to be acquired in currently being held by India Infrastructure Development Fund (“IIDF”), India Infrastructure Fund (“IIF”) and IFCI…