New Delhi: In the hearing on January 19, Supreme Court asked Google India to comply with National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). SC granted one week’s time to the technology giant to comply with NCLAT. The apex court also ordered Google India to deposit 10% of the Rs 1,337.76 cr penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for alleged anti-competitive practices.
Supreme Court grants one week time to Google India to comply with National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) order directing the technology giant to deposit 10% of Rs 1,337.76 cr penalty imposed on it by Competition Commission of India for alleged anti-competitive practices pic.twitter.com/SfTxRKUMFa
— ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2023
Meanwhile, SC refused to interfere with the interim order of NCLAT and sent the plea by Google India back to the Tribunal. The court has asked NCLAT to decide the case by March 31.
Earlier in the case, CCI told the court that Google was alleged to be in anti-competitive practices in 2016 and the tech giant complied with the order in Europe, so with that reference, the firm should comply with CCI’s order. Additional Solicitor General of India N Venkataraman, appearing for the CCI, alleged that Google was taking different standards in India and Europe.
A bench of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice JB Pardiwala was hearing the case. Senior advocate A M Singhvi was representing Google in the case. CJI Chandrachud also asked A M Singhvi to think over the question of whether Google will practice the ‘same regime’ in the country as in Europe.
The CCI, in October 2022, asked Google to allow Android smartphone users to uninstall its apps and let them have a choice of selecting a search engine of their choice. The order was to come into effect from January 19.
