The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday temporarily barred the Competition Commission of India (CCI) from disclosing confidential Google India Pvt Ltd information to the complainant Alliance Of Digital India Foundation until May 25.
This is because CCI is currently investigating whether Google uses anti-competitive measures to require developers distributing their apps through the Play Store to use Google Play’s billing system and pay a service fee of 15-30% on the sale of digital goods. According to CCI, the tech giant was found guilty of anti-competitive, unfair, and restrictive trade practices in the mobile operating system and related markets.
In the case of Google India Private Ltd. vs. Competition Commission of India (Writ Petition No. 9399 of 2022), a vacation bench of Honourable Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav said “Following a brief hearing of the parties, it would be appropriate to ensure that confidential information is not shared with respondent number two and is directed to be subject to further consideration. The Commission should hold off on making any further representations about the same issue by the petitioners. The matter will be listed on May 25.”
“It is further clarified that petitioner is required to adhere to timeliness in relation to proceedings pending before the Competition Commission of India,” it continued.
According to the facts of the case, the company approached the court after the Commission issued an order on April 18 allowing the company’s confidential information to be shared with the respondent 2.
Senior Advocate Gopal Subramanium and Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya, appearing for the company, submitted that “the CCI in its order dated 18-04-2022 has permitted divulging of confidential information to the respondent 2, which is contrary to the regulations.”
“Regulation 35 (6) be read and harmoniously interpreted with Regulation 35 (8), which is an overriding provision,” it was added. It was also argued that, in light of the confidential information, whether CCI fulfilled the requirements of 35 (8) by applying its mind and recording its findings in terms of the conditions being met is a matter for this court to decide.”
“The undertaking given under regulation 35 (7) by him is a solemn undertaking given which they are bound by and needs to be taken note of,” said advocate Abir Roy, appearing for respondent no 2. Roy even raised the issue of the petition’s viability.
Senior Advocate Harish Narasappa, appearing for CCI, stated that the petitioner has made a subsequent representation on the same line, which is awaiting a commission order.
Following that, the court stated in its order, “The matter was brought before the vacation bench at the outset, and it was clarified that the final order, even for interim relief, would be after detailed consideration, and thus a transitory interim direction was issued. It is clarified that any observation made by this order will not be considered a conclusion or definitive opinion and will be subject to further order.”
As a result, it issued the interim order, which will be in effect until the next hearing date on May 25.
