CCI imposes penalty for collusive bidding in tender floated by Pune Municipal Corporation .

CCI imposes penalty for  collusive bidding in tender floated by Pune Municipal Corporation   By way of order dated 02.08.2019, the Competition Commission of India (“CCI/Commission”) has fined SAAR IT Resources Pvt. Ltd (“SAAR”), CADD Systems and Services Pvt. Ltd(“CADD”) and Pentacle Consultants (I) Pvt. Ltd (“Pentacle”) for collusive bidding in a tender floated by…

CCI finds no evidence of cartelization between top multiplex cinema theater groups on VPF and other issues

CCI finds no evidence of cartelization between  top multiplex cinema theater groups on VPF and other issues     By way of order dated 24.07.2019, the Competition Commission of India (“CCI/Commission”) has dismissed allegations of cartelization , under the aegis of FICCI Multiplex Association of India (“FICCI”) against 4 top multiplex cinema theatre Groups viz.…

Another case of RPM in automobile sector in India ? CCI orders investigation against Maruti Suzuki for allegedly controlling discounts of its dealers in Western India

Another case of RPM in automobile sector in India ? CCI orders investigation against Maruti Suzuki for allegedly controlling discounts of its dealers in Western India     Are the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the automobile sector in India used to  indulge in resale price maintenance (RPM) by dictating minimum resale prices of (at…

CCI orders probe into alleged abusive conduct of Google in imposing conditions for use of its Android OS on smartphone manufacturers in India

CCI orders probe into alleged abusive conduct of Google in imposing conditions for use of its Android OS on smartphone manufacturers in India By way of order dated 16.04.2019, the Competition Commission of India (“CCI/Commission”) has ordered investigation by the Director General against the alleged abusive conduct of Google (“DG”) pursuant to forming a prima…

CCI penalizes Jalgaon District Medicine Dealers Association for imposing PIS charges on pharma companies

CCI penalizes Jalgaon District Medicine Dealers Association for imposing PIS charges on pharma companies   The Competition Commission of India (“CCI/Commission”) by way of order dated 20.06.2019 has imposed a penalty of INR 80,185/- on Jalgaon District Medicine Dealers Association (“JDMDA/OP”) in the State of Maharashtra, India for collecting Product Information Service (“PIS”) charges from…

CCI dismisses allegations against vertical restraints imposed by VIVO on dealers- finds no evidence to hold AAEC

CCI dismisses allegations against vertical restraints imposed  by VIVO on dealers- finds  no evidence to hold AAEC The Competition Commission of India (“CCI/Commission”) by way of order dated 19.06.2019 has exonerated Haicheng Vivo Mobile, Vivo Mobile India Pvt. Ltd and Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd (hereinafter collectively referred to as ‘Vivo’) of allegations of vertical restraints…

CCI imposes penalty on chemists and druggist associations in Madhya Pradesh and two pharmaceutical companies

CCI imposes penalty on chemists and druggist associations in Madhya Pradesh and two pharmaceutical companies The Competition Commission of India (“CCI”) by way of an order dated 03 June 2019 has imposed penalty on Madhya Pradesh Chemists and Druggist Association (“MPCDA”) and Indore Chemists Association (“ICA”)  (collectively ‘chemists and druggist associations’), as well as two pharmaceutical companies,…

India : Prior competition clearance in Insolvency Resolution Process now mandatory – step towards “ease of doing business”

India : Prior competition clearance in Insolvency Resolution Process now mandatory – step towards “ease of doing business”  The enactment of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) has been often cited as one of the key economic reform of the present government . Undoubtedly the new enactment resulted in large corporate entities queuing up…

CCI dismisses allegations of refusal to deal by chemists in West Bengal -closes case against Cipla and Macleods and Bengal Chemists & Druggists Association at prima facie stage

CCI dismisses allegations of refusal to deal by chemists in West Bengal -closes case against  Cipla and Macleods and Bengal Chemists & Druggists Association at prima facie stage Competition Commission of India (“CCI/Commission”), by way of two separate orders dated 10.05.2019 and 23.05.2019, has exonerated Bengal Chemist and Druggist Association (“BCDA”) (in both cases) and…

Role of Courts in Settling Conflict of Jurisdiction Between Sector Regulators and Competition Regulator in India

Role of Courts in Settling Conflict of Jurisdiction Between Sector Regulators and Competition Regulator in India The conflict of jurisdiction between sector specific regulators and CCI has been a perennial source of litigation between the parties which has attracted judicial intervention by writ courts. The higher judiciary in India, including the Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT)…