Google’s Plea Against NCLAT’s Refusal to Stay CCI Fine to Be Heard on Monday

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to listen to on January 16 an attraction of Google towards the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal’s (NCLAT) refusal to remain the Rs. 1,337.76 crore penalty imposed on the know-how large by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for alleged anti-competitive practices.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha stated it will hear the case on Monday.

Pleading for the pressing listening to, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi representing Google, stated, “Extraordinary directions passed by CCI. I am asking (listing of the case) for Friday. The compliance date (of the order) is 19th otherwise the matter will become infructuous.”

“We will keep it on Monday,” stated the bench.

After dealing with a setback at NCLAT, which refused to remain the CCI order, Google approached the Supreme Court. The CCI had, in October 2022, imposed the penalty on Google for abusing its dominant place in a number of markets within the Android cell machine ecosystem and in addition directed the know-how large to stop and desist from collaborating in anti-competitive practices.

Google has challenged the January 4 order of the NCLAT which refused to remain the CCI order reasoning that the CCI’s order was handed in October 2022, whereas the attraction by Google was filed solely in December 2022, and therefore, no case for interim reduction was made out.

Since no urgency was proven in submitting the attraction, Google couldn’t be allowed to insist on the interim reduction, the Tribunal has stated.

NCLAT has additionally directed Google to deposit 10 per cent of the Rs. 1,337.76 crore high-quality quantity inside three weeks.

Google challenged the CCI order within the NCLAT, which is an appellate authority over the CCI towards any path issued by the regulator.