Taxmann's Indian Competition Law is a section-wise commentary on Competition Law. What sets this book apart is the unique combination of the study of both substantive and procedural elements of Competition Law in India.
The objective of this book is three-fold:
• Focusing on Indian Competition Law, elucidating the Indian jurisprudence and then comparing it with positions taken by European Union (EU) and the United States
• This book does not get restricted to the major provisions/broader issues of competition law but also highlights economic, technical and administrative concepts/issues that are relevant in the practical application and interpretation of competition law
• This book does not become a technical treatise but a document that a wider audience can read and understand, including lawyers, judges, academicians, lawmakers, market regulators, & entrepreneurs.
The Present Publication is the Latest Edition, authored by Adv. Gautam Shahi & Dr. Sudhanshu Kumar, amended up to 30th May 2021, with the following noteworthy features:
• [Detailed Study on Fundamental Issues] including:
o Anti-Competitive Agreements
o Abuse of Dominant Position
o Combinations (Acquisitions and Mergers)
• [Evolution of Competition Jurisprudence] in India
• [Comparitive Assessment] of major issues in Indian competition law with vis-à-vis EU, UK, and the USA
• [Exhaustive Analysis] on Rules, Regulations, Guidance issued by CCI & Case Laws decided by the CCI, COMPAT (now NCLAT), High Courts, and the Supreme Court
• [Interaction of Competition Act with other Laws] such as:
o Administrative Law
o Intellectual Property Laws
o Telecom Laws
4. I-9
In a sense, the idea of this book took seed in 2015, when a Ld. Judge in
Hon’ble Competition Appellate Tribunal,1
while listening to a matter,
rued the lack of Indian precedents being cited by the counsels. However,
in 2015, there were limited Indian jurisprudence on competition law for
counsels to rely on. Hence, counsels had no options but to rely extensively
on precedents from Europe and United States. Similarly, while advising
the clients or while teaching students, counsels and teachers, were being
forced to rely on judgments coming from Europe and United States and
hope that Competition Commission of India and other forums in India
will stick to the same principles.
However, by 2020, there was a voluminous amount of judgments from
the Learned Competition Commission of India, Hon’ble High Courts of
various States and Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. These judgment not
only covered the legal and economic issues pertaining to competition law,
they also covered the administrative issues arising out of Competition Act,
2002. Interestingly, on occasions these judgments adapted the principles
of competition law in a manner suitable to Indian markets, Indian firms
and Indian legal structure. Hence, last year, when Sudhanshu and I
started discussing the proposal for this book with the Taxmann team,
our primary objective was to write a book which focussed on Indian
Competition law, elucidating Indian jurisprudence and then compare it
with position taken by forums in European Union and United States.
We wanted to dive deep into this fascinating subject and bring out the
micro issues that are or may become relevant to the study and practice
of competition law. Hence, our next objective was to ensure that the
book does not get restricted to just the major provisions of the statute
and broader issues of competition law, but also highlights economic,
technical and administrative concepts/issues that become relevant in
practical application and interpretation of competition law.
We believe deeply that competition law, if applied properly, can assist
in the economic growth of India and benefit it’s population. However,
for that to happen, it cannot afford to be relegated to a hyper-technical
Preface
#OMPETITION
!PPELLATE
4RIBUNAL
WAS
SUBSEQUENTLY
MERGED
INTO
.ATIONAL
#OMPANY
,AW
!PPELLATE
4RIBUNAL
5. 02%!#% I-10
subject, read and understood by select few who specialise in this field.
Hence, our last and final objective was to ensure that the book does
not become a technical treatise meant only for experts but, a document
that can be read and understood by a wider audience which includes,
lawyers, judges, academicians, law makers, market regulators as well as
entrepreneurs.
As authors, we are happy that the book has been able to achieve these
objectives. The book is a repository of the judgments, pertaining to
competition law, passed by Indian forums. It has also been enriched
by the landmark judgments of forums in European Union and United
States. The book discusses both macro and micro issues pertaining to
competition law. It also tries to delve into new issues arising in the field
of competition law, like the e-commerce market and algorithmic systems.
We have tried to keep the language simple and explain the concepts
logically.
We do hope that the readers will find this book useful in navigating the
nuances of competition law.
We acknowledge the research assistance provided by Aishwarya
Gopakumar (LL.M Nalsar 2020) in the completion of this book.
Lastly, we would convey our sincere gratitude to the publishers
M/s Taxmann for their continuous assistance and inputs.
ADV. GAUTAM SHAHI
DR. SUDHANSHU KUMAR
6. 3%#4)/. 0!'%
Foreword I-5
About the Authors I-7
Preface I-9
List of cases I-17
COMPETITION ACT, 2002
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. 3HORT
TITLE
7. EXTENT
AND
COMMENCEMENT 3
2. $EFINITIONS 6
CHAPTER II
PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN AGREEMENTS,
ABUSE OF DOMINANT POSITION AND
REGULATION OF COMBINATIONS
Prohibition of agreements
3. !NTI
COMPETITIVE
AGREEMENTS 43
Prohibition of abuse of dominant position
4. !BUSE
OF
DOMINANT
POSITION 126
Regulation of combinations
5. #OMBINATION 196
6. 2EGULATION
OF
COMBINATIONS 214
CHAPTER III
COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA
7. %STABLISHMENT
OF
#OMMISSION 263
8. #OMPOSITION
OF
#OMMISSION 265
Contents
I-11
14. PROFESSIONALS
AND
OFFICERS
AND
OTHER
EMPLOYEES
OF
#OMMISSION
279
CHAPTER IV
DUTIES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF
COMMISSION
18. $UTIES
OF
#OMMISSION 280
19. )NQUIRY
INTO
CERTAIN
AGREEMENTS
AND
DOMINANT
POSITION
OF
ENTER
PRISE
282
20. )NQUIRY
INTO
COMBINATION
BY
#OMMISSION 294
21. 2EFERENCE
BY
STATUTORY
AUTHORITY 296
21A. 2EFERENCE
BY
#OMMISSION 297
22. -EETINGS
OF
#OMMISSION 298
23. ;OmittedbytheCompetition(Amendment)Act,2007,w.e.f.
12-10-2007=
299
24. ;OmittedbytheCompetition(Amendment)Act,2007,w.e.f.
12-10-2007=
299
25. ;OmittedbytheCompetition(Amendment)Act,2007,w.e.f.
12-10-2007=
300
26.
0ROCEDURE
FOR
INQUIRY
UNDER
SECTION
300
27. /RDERS
BY
#OMMISSION
AFTER
INQUIRY
INTO
AGREEMENTS
OR
ABUSE
OF
DOMINANT
POSITION
307
28. $IVISION
OF
ENTERPRISE
ENJOYING
DOMINANT
POSITION 314
29. 0ROCEDURE
FOR
INVESTIGATION
OF
COMBINATIONS 315
S.29 #/.4%.43 I-12
15. 3%#4)/. 0!'%
30. 0ROCEDURE
IN
CASE
OF
NOTICE
UNDER
SUB
SECTION
OF
SECTION
317
31. /RDERS
OF
#OMMISSION
ON
CERTAIN
COMBINATIONS 318
32. !CTS
TAKING
PLACE
OUTSIDE
)NDIA
BUT
HAVING
AN
EFFECT
ON
COMPETI
TION
IN
)NDIA
322
33. 0OWER
TO
ISSUE
INTERIM
ORDERS 325
34. ;OmittedbytheCompetition(Amendment)Act,2007,w.e.f.
12-10-2007=
327
35. !PPEARANCE
BEFORE
#OMMISSION 327
36. 0OWER
OF
#OMMISSION
TO
REGULATE
ITS
OWN
PROCEDURE 328
37. ;OmittedbytheCompetition(Amendment)Act,2007,w.e.f.
12-10-2007=
336
38. 2ECTIFICATION
OF
ORDERS 336
39. %XECUTION
OF
ORDERS
OF
#OMMISSION
IMPOSING
MONETARY
PENALTY
337
40. ;OmittedbytheCompetition(Amendment)Act,2007,w.e.f.
12-10-2007=
339
CHAPTER V
DUTIES OF DIRECTOR GENERAL
41. $IRECTOR
'ENERAL
TO
INVESTIGATE
CONTRAVENTIONS 339
CHAPTER VI
PENALTIES
42. #ONTRAVENTION
OF
ORDERS
OF
#OMMISSION 342
42A. #OMPENSATION
IN
CASE
OF
CONTRAVENTION
OF
ORDERS
OF
COMMISSION
345
43. 0ENALTY
FOR
FAILURE
TO
COMPLY
WITH
DIRECTIONS
OF
#OMMIS-
SION
AND
$IRECTOR
'ENERAL
345
43A. 0OWER
TO
IMPOSE
PENALTY
FOR
NON
FURNISHING
OF
INFORMATION
ON
COMBINATIONS
347
44. 0ENALTY
FOR
MAKING
FALSE
STATEMENT
OR
OMISSION
TO
FURNISH
MATE
RIAL
INFORMATION
349
45. 0ENALTY
FOR
OFFENCES
IN
RELATION
TO
FURNISHING
OF
INFORMATION 349
46. 0OWER
TO
IMPOSE
LESSER
PENALTY 350
47. #REDITING
SUMS
REALISED
BY
WAY
OF
PENALTIES
TO
#ONSOLI-
DATED
UND
OF
)NDIA
357
I-13 #/.4%.43 S.48
16. 3%#4)/. 0!'%
48. #ONTRAVENTION
BY
COMPANIES 358
CHAPTER VII
COMPETITION ADVOCACY
49. #OMPETITION
ADVOCACY 361
CHAPTER VIII
FINANCE, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT
50. 'RANTS
BY
#ENTRAL
'OVERNMENT 366
51. #ONSTITUTION
OF
FUND 366
52. !CCOUNTS
AND
AUDIT 367
53. URNISHING
OF
RETURNS
18. TO
#ENTRAL
'OVERNMENT 369
CHAPTER VIIIA
APPELLATE TRIBUNAL
53A. !PPELLATE
4RIBUNAL 370
53B. !PPEAL
TO
!PPELLATE
4RIBUNAL 374
53C. to
53M.
;Omitted by the Finance Act, 2017, w.e.f. 26-5-2017= 377
53N. !WARDING
COMPENSATION 379
53-O. 0ROCEDURE
AND
POWERS
OF
!PPELLATE
4RIBUNAL 383
53P. %XECUTION
OF
ORDERS
OF
!PPELLATE
4RIBUNAL 385
53Q. #ONTRAVENTION
OF
ORDERS
OF
!PPELLATE
4RIBUNAL 386
53R. ;Omitted by the Finance Act, 2017, w.e.f. 26-5-2017= 387
53S. 2IGHT
TO
LEGAL
REPRESENTATION 387
53T. !PPEAL
TO
3UPREME
#OURT 388
53U. 0OWER
TO
PUNISH
FOR
CONTEMPT 389
CHAPTER IX
MISCELLANEOUS
54. 0OWER
TO
EXEMPT 390
55. 0OWER
OF
#ENTRAL
'OVERNMENT
TO
ISSUE
DIRECTIONS 395
56. 0OWER
OF
#ENTRAL
'OVERNMENT
TO
SUPERSEDE
#OMMISSION 396
57. 2ESTRICTION
ON
DISCLOSURE
OF
INFORMATION 398
S.57 #/.4%.43 I-14
25. TO
BE
PUBLIC
SERVANTS
402
59. 0ROTECTION
OF
ACTION
TAKEN
IN
GOOD
FAITH 403
60. !CT
TO
HAVE
OVERRIDING
EFFECT 404
61. %XCLUSION
OF
JURISDICTION
OF
CIVIL
COURTS 408
62. !PPLICATION
OF
OTHER
LAWS
NOT
BARRED 408
63. 0OWER
TO
MAKE
RULES 409
64. 0OWER
TO
MAKE
REGULATIONS 414
65. 0OWER
TO
REMOVE
DIFFICULTIES 416
66. 2EPEAL
AND
SAVING 416
APPENDICES
‹
#OMPETITION
!CT
91. COMMENTS
18.1 Duties of the CCI
4HE
MAIN
OBJECTIVE
OF
COMPETITION
LAW
IS
TO
PROMOTE
ECONOMIC
EFFICIENCY
USING
COMPETITION
AS
ONE
OF
THE
MEANS
OF
ASSISTING
THE
CREATION
OF
MARKET
RESPON-
SIVE
TO
CONSUMER
PREFERENCES
4HE
#OMPETITION
!CT
IS
AIMED
AT
ADDRESSING
THE
EVILS
AFFECTING
THE
ECONOMIC
LANDSCAPE
OF
THE
COUNTRY
IN
WHICH
INTEREST
OF
THE
SOCIETY
AND
CONSUMERS
AT
LARGE
IS
DIRECTLY
INVOLVED
/NE
OF
THE
AVOWED
OBJECTIVES
OF
THE
!CT
IS
TO
PROMOTE
CONSUMERS
WELFARE
BY
PREVENTING
MARKET
DISTORTIONS
CAUSED
BY
SUCH
ACTIONS
AND
AGREEMENTS
OF
THE
ENTERPRISES
WHICH
MILITATE
AGAINST
THE
COMPETITION
AND
CONSUMERS
INTEREST
4HE
COMPETITION
LAW
BY
ITS
VERY
NATURE
ENVISAGES
THAT
THERE
ARE
SITUATIONS
WHERE
THE
#OMMISSION
HAS
A
ROLE
AND
HAS
TO
CONTROL
BEHAVIOUR
OF
THE
ENTERPRISES
IN
THE
MARKET
PLACE
IN
ORDER
TO
ACHIEVE
CONSUMER
WELFARE
3ECTION
OF
THE
!CT
WHICH
IS
IN
CONSONANCE
WITH
THE
PREAMBLE
OF
THE
!CT
100. 2USSIA
Competition Commission of India
V Steel Authority of India Ltd. ;=
TAXMANNCOM
3#,
3#
Ramakant Kini
V
Dr. L.H. Hiranandani Hospital
#OMP
,
2
##)
Excel Crop. Care Limited
V
Competition Commission of India !)2
3#
Shamsher Kataria Informant
V Honda Siel Cars India Ltd.
#OMP,2
##)
Belaire Owner’s Association V DLF Ltd.
;=
TAXMANNCOM
##)
281 #(
)6
$54)%3
158. WHICH
IS
NOT
A
NORMAL
FEATURE
IN
ADVERSARIAL
PROCEEDINGS
19.2.2 Informant vs. Complainant
4HE
(ONBLE
3UPREME
#OURT
IN
SamirAgarwal21
APPROVED
THE
AFORESAID
POSITION
REGARDING
locus standi
OF
THE
)NFORMANT
4HE
!PEX
#OURT
RELIED
ON
THE
FOLLOWING
REASONING
TO
COME
TO
THE
SAID
CONCLUSION
‹
!
READING
OF
THE
PROVISIONS
OF
THE
#OMPETITION
!CT
AND
#OMPETITION
#OMMISSION
OF
)NDIA
'ENERAL
2EGULATIONS
235. ORDER NOW
Description:
Taxmann's Indian Competition Law is a section-wise commentary on Competition Law. What
sets this book apart is the unique combination of the study of both substantive and procedural
elements of Competition Law in India.
The objective of this book is three-fold:
Focusing on Indian Competition Law, elucidating the Indian jurisprudence and then
comparing it with positions taken by European Union (EU) and the United States
This book does not get restricted to the major provisions/broader issues of competition law
but also highlights economic, technical and administrative concepts/issues that are relevant
in the practical application and interpretation of competition law
This book does not become a technical treatise but a document that a wider audience can
read and understand, including lawyers, judges, academicians, lawmakers, market regulators,
entrepreneurs.
Rs. 1695
INDIAN
COMPETITION LAW
Author : GAUTAM SHAHI, SUDHANSHU KUMAR
Publisher: TAXMANN
Edition : 1st Edition
ISBN No.: 9789390831784
Date of Publication: July 2021