Technical / NCLAT denies interim relief to Google on Rs 936 crore CCI order

Fine on Google: Google has suffered a major setback in the matter of fine imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has refused to grant interim relief to Google in the case of Rs 936.44 crore fine imposed on it by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The CCI imposed this penalty on Google for abusing its dominant position with regard to Play Store policies.

Was ordered to deposit 10 percent of the fine

NCLAT has directed Google to deposit 10 percent of the fine within the next four weeks. A two-judge bench of the Appellate Tribunal issued notice to the CCI and other respondents. Now further hearing on the matter will be held on 17 April 2023. Last week too, the appellate tribunal had directed Google to pay 10 per cent of the Rs 1,337.76 crore fine imposed on it by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

NCLAT accepted the petition

The NCLAT bench had accepted Google's plea against the CCI fine order. But refusing to immediately ban the implementation of the fine, said that she would pass an order only after hearing other parties. In October, the CCI, through two orders passed in less than a week, imposed a fine of over Rs 2,200 crore on Google. On October 25, the CCI imposed a fine of Rs 936.44 crore on Google for abusing its dominant position in Play Store policies.

Apart from the fine, the CCI had said that Google should not restrict app developers from using any third party billing/payment processing services to purchase apps. Earlier on October 20, the regulator had imposed a fine of Rs 1,337.76 crore on Google for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets with respect to Android mobile devices.