The Ministry of Corporate Affairs ( MCA ) is set to conduct a performance review of the Competition Commission of India ( CCI ) due to mounting concerns over the regulator’s perceived inaction in addressing complaints filed by app developers against tech behemoth Google, alleging anti-competitive behaviour and non-compliance with previous rulings.
Sources within the Ministry revealed that Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to convene a meeting on this matter during the current month, reported Hindu.
In addition to assessing the status of regulatory measures necessitated by recent amendments in competition law, the review meeting is expected to scrutinise the delays in investigating and resolving cases by the CCI, according to insider reports.
The CCI has faced criticism for prolonged delays in adjudicating cases involving major tech players such as Google, Meta, Amazon, Flipkart, WhatsApp, Zomato, and Swiggy, with numerous complaints pending for several years.
Recently, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has sent a letter to the CCI requesting to take action on the case filed by Delhi Vyapar Mahasangh against Amazon & Flipkart for their anti- competitive practices that have severely affected the livelihoods of Indian retailers.
The Madras High Court has rejected the appeals filed by the 14 Indian Startups, including Bharat Matrimony and Unacademy on Google’s app billing policy. The court highlighted the comprehensive nature of remedies available under the Competition Act, surpassing those accessible through a civil court. This underlines the suggestion that challenges to the CCI’s orders should be directed to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, reflecting the intricacies of competition law.
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