Supreme Court agrees to hear plea of Google against NCLAT order

The NCLAT admitted the search giant's challenge to the CCI slapping a ₹1,337.76 crore fine for abusing the dominant position of its Android smartphone operating system in the country

 The NCLAT, on January 4, had refused an interim stay on an order of the competition regulator imposing a ₹1,337 crore penalty on Google and had asked it to deposit 10% of the amount. File | Photo Credit: Reuters

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear Google’s plea in connection with a ₹1337-crore penalty imposed on it by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for alleged anti-competitive practices in relation to Android mobile devices.

Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said the case would be listed on January 16 after senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, for Google, urged for an early hearing during oral mentioning hour.

Mr. Singhvi submitted that the “extraordinary directions” of the CCI which are under challenge have to be complied with by January 19.

Why has the CCI levied multiple penalties on Google?

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) had refused to provide any interim relief to the U.S. tech giant. Instead, the tribunal had posted the case in April, virtually rendering Google’s appeal infructuous, Mr. Singhvi submitted.

“There is no finding of abuse of dominance,” he argued. He said there was no evidence to support the findings of the competition watchdog. The appellate tribunal had directed Google to deposit 10% of the fine before its registry in the next four weeks.

On October 25, CCI had slapped a penalty of ₹936.44 crore on Google for abusing its dominant position with respect to its Play Store policies.