CCI order challenged by Google over anticompetitive practices

Why in the News?

Google, was slapped with a fine of Rs 1,338 crore by CCI after being found guilty of anti-competitive behaviour in the Android mobile application ecosystem

What are Anticompetitive practices?

• It refers to a wide range of business practices in which a firm or group of firms may engage to restrict inter-firm competition to maintain or increase their relative market position and profits without necessarily providing goods and services at a lower cost or of higher quality.

What is CCI?

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) was established in March 2009 by the Government of India under the Competition Act, 2002 for the administration, implementation, and enforcement of the Act.
• Composition of the CCI
  • The Commission consists of one Chairperson and six Memberswho shall be appointed by the Central Government.
  • It is a quasi-judicial body which gives opinions to statutory authorities and also deals with other cases.
  • The Chairperson and other Members shall be whole-time Members
• Objectives:
• It will eliminate practices having adverse effects on competition.
• To Promote and sustain competition.
• It helps in protecting the interests of consumers.
• Ensuring freedom of trade in the markets of India.
• It will Establish a robust competitive environment through:

What is NCLAT?

• It was constituted under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013 for hearing appeals against the orders of the National Company Law Tribunal(s) (NCLT), with effect from 1st June 2016.
• Functions:
  • Hearing appeals against the orders passed by NCLT(s) under Section 61 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).
  • To hear and dispose of appeals against any direction issued or decision made or order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
• It also hears and disposes of appeals against the orders of the National Financial Reporting Authority.

Q1) What are the effects of anti-competitive practices?

The most obvious effect of such practices is seen in the form of price increases in markets involving output-restricting or price- fixing cartels and dominant firms abusing their market power. In such cases, consumers are the ones who suffer directly from restricted competition.

Source: Google moves NCLAT over CCI fine on ‘dominance

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