CCI has been pragmatic in levying, quantifying penalties: Chairperson Ashok Kumar Gupta

Competition Commission Chairperson Ashok Kumar Gupta on Tuesday stated the regulator has been pragmatic in levying and quantifying penalties because the enforcement actions are usually not divorced from enterprise and financial realities.

Gupta, who will likely be demitting workplace on Tuesday after being on the helm of the watchdog for almost 4 years, additionally stated that the feasibility of an ex-ante framework ought to be thought of for successfully regulating digital markets.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has been taking steps to make sure honest competitors within the digital market and final Thursday, it handed a serious order towards Google for the abuse of dominance in a number of markets in relation to Android cell units.

When requested about Google’s feedback on the ruling associated to the Android matter, the chairperson declined to remark.

Last Wednesday, the watchdog slapped penalties totalling Rs 392 crore on MakeMyTrip, Goibibo and OYO for unfair enterprise practices.

“We, at CCI, are presently addressing competitors issues in digital markets by our anti-trust enforcement measures, that are basically ex-post.

“However, the need and rationale for ex-ante regulation to supplement these efforts of CCI cannot be over-emphasised in view of the experience gained and difficulties faced by CCI in effecting timely market correction in digital markets,” Gupta informed PTI in an interview.

He additionally emphasised that there’s a must intently contemplate the feasibility of an ex-ante framework to deal with home wants for successfully regulating digital markets, which can complement the ex-post enforcement actions of CCI.

“Considering that India has the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem with tech-based startup ecosystem permeating across sectors, it would be entirely appropriate and timely that we, in India, also stay aligned with the frameworks, which are being evolved by our counterparts in regulating digital markets through ex-ante measures lest we remain behind the curve,” he famous.

To a question about competitors regulation jurisprudence within the nation with respect to large tech gamers, the CCI chief stated the regulator is at a really crucial second within the evolution of competitors regulation jurisprudence in India.

“Going forward, I believe, as the issues posed are similar, competition agencies across the globe need to collaborate to exchange learnings and experiences. This will provide certainty to the markets,” he stated.

Over the yr, CCI has been taking a lightweight strategy in the direction of MSMEs and leniency with respect to cartel circumstances the place there are proactive disclosures by the entities involved.

“We have been pragmatic in levying and quantifying penalties as our enforcement actions are not divorced from business and economic realities,” Gupta stated.

He additionally confused that CCI’s function is to make sure quicker market correction and to not implement the regime, which is characterised by the heavy imposition of penalties, which in any occasion, get mired in litigation making the opposite cures as properly a casualty within the appellate course of.