Competition Commission of India (CCI), on Saturday, said it was in the process of finalising its report on the probe into alleged cartelisation by the state-run oil marketing companies in fixing petrol prices.
Talking to journalists on the sidelines of a seminar organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) on competition law, CCI Chairman Ashok Chawla said, “We are in the process of finalising the probe soon. We are completing formalities for sending them an order which will ensure that there is investigation to see what is happening in terms of fixing of petrol prices.” The CCI had also written to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry seeking its view on the cartelisation issue but the Ministry had washed its hands off by stating that it was not involved in fixing of petrol prices as it was a deregulated commodity since June 2010.
On the issue of abuse of its dominant position by state-run Coal India Limited (CIL), Mr. Chawla said CCI had received the investigation report from its Director General (DG). “The Commission as a whole will look at the matter and then take a decision,” he added.
Referring to the fluctuations in air fares, Mr. Chawla said these were determined by the market. “As far as CCI is concerned, as on today, there is no reason perhaps to intervene. We have not found any evidence of any combined action or cartelisation by airlines,’’ he said. Earlier this week, CCI had ruled that the government or the Director-General of Civil Aviation could not be asked to cap the flight ticket prices as that would go against the spirit of competition in the sector.
He said about 25-26 cases were now under investigation by the Director General. Noting that the Commission had responded to cases within a reasonable timeframe, he said the amount of information being received by it had increased in the last few months. He said the regulator had dealt with around 340 cases related to anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position in the market.
