SC to Hear Google and CCI Cross-Pleas on Alleged Anti-Competitive Practices

The Supreme Court on Friday stated that it will hear the cross-pleas of Google and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on October 10, 2023.

These pleas challenge the verdict of an appellate tribunal regarding Google’s alleged anti-competitive practices in the case involving android mobile devices.

A bench consisting of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra took up the appeals and said it wanted “some time to get ready” with the case.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing one of the parties, suggested keeping the plea for final disposal at a later date.

The bench agreed to list the cross-pleas for final disposal on October 10 and directed the parties to complete the filing of pleadings by October 7. The court also appointed lawyer Sameer Bansal as the nodal counsel to facilitate the preparation of common digital pleadings by lawyers from both sides.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) had previously upheld a fine of Rs 1,338 crore imposed on Google by the CCI for exploiting its dominant position in the Android market but had scrapped certain conditions related to app stores. Both Google and the CCI have appealed against the NCLAT judgment in the Supreme Court.