Last Update: January 19, 2023, 17:00 IST
The CCI had imposed a fine of Rs 1,337.76 crore on Google in October for abusing its dominant position in the Android mobile device markets. (Reuters file photo)
Google is fighting charges from the anti-trust body in the country accusing it of abusing its monopoly in the mobile market.
In a jolt to Google, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to interfere with the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) verdict and stayed the operation of the Competition Commission of India. India (CCI) ordered a fine of Rs 1,337.76 crore on the tech giant.
A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala set aside the NCLAT order. However, the top court directed the NCLAT to dispose of Google’s appeal by March 31.
The bench said that any opinion of this court on merits would affect the matter before the NCLAT. It added that the findings of the CCI cannot be said to be without jurisdiction or with manifest error.
The Chief Justice said that the compliance of the CCI order is extended for a further period of one week.
On January 11, the Supreme Court had agreed to examine an appeal by Google against an NCLAT order refusing to stay a fine of Rs 1,337.76 crore imposed on it by the CCI for alleged anti-competitive practices. Had given.
Google moved the top court after a setback in the NCLAT, which did not stay the CCI order on abuse of dominant position in multiple markets in the Android mobile device ecosystem case.
Earlier this month, the NCLAT found no urgency in passing an interim order, noting that Google had filed an appeal in December last year, though the CCI had passed the order in October.
It directed Google to deposit 10 per cent of the fine amount.
The tribunal had said that since no haste was shown in filing the appeal, Google cannot be allowed to press for interim relief.
In October last year, the CCI had imposed a penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore on the company for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets with respect to Android mobile devices.
The CCI also imposed a fine of Rs 936.44 crore on the company for abusing its dominant position with respect to Play Store policies.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)