On Wednesday, the NCLAT affirmed, with a few amendments. The decisions of the fair trade regulator CCI that penalised tech giant Google in the Android mobile devices case with a fine of Rs. 1,337.76 crore. Google has been told to follow the instruction and deposit the money within 30 days. According to a two-member bench of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
The October 20, 2022 CCI order was modified by the NCLAT panel
“We upheld the punishment? Google, the appellant, is permitted to pay the fine “after adjusting 10% of the amount previously deposited in accordance with its prior order from January 4 within a 30-day window, it stated. Additionally, it gave Google 30 days to put the measures that had been approved by NCLAT and the Competition Commission of India into effect.
The October 20, 2022 CCI order was modified by the NCLAT panel. Which also included Member Alok Shrivastava and Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan. The CCI order has been modified. And several of the issues related to the ability to uninstall Google Suite software have been struck down. Also, it denied Google’s claim that the CCI’s conduct in the investigation violated the principles of natural justice.
Google was contacted via email for feedback, but no response was received.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) fined Google Rs. 1,337.76 crore on October 20 of last year for engaging in anti-competitive behaviour with regard to Android mobile devices. The internet giant had also been told to stop engaging in a number of unfair commercial practises by the regulator.
This decision was contested before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), an appeals body for the CCI’s rulings. Google claimed in its appeal that the CCI’s investigation into it was “tainted,” claiming that the two informants on whose complaint the fair trade regulator based the probe were employed by the same office that was looking into the tech giant.
Google argues that the CCI ignored evidence from Indian users, app developers, and OEMs while failing to conduct a “impartial, objective, and legally sound examination.” The findings are “patently erroneous and overlook” the reality of competition in India. Google’s pro-competitive business model, and the advantages provided for all stakeholders, according to Google, which is contesting the CCI judgement.
