ECONOMICS

PROJECT

THE COMPETITION ACT OF India,2002

Submitted to:

Ms Ekjyot Kaur

Submitted by:

Alaqshendra Singh Bhadauria

1423
INDEX
INTRODUCTION
An Act to give, keeping in view of the economic development of the
country, for the establishment of a Commission to prevent practices
having adverse effect on competition, to promote and sustain
competition in markets, to protect the interests of consumers and to
ensure freedom of trade carried on by other participants in markets,
in India, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The Competition Act, 2002 was enacted by the Parliament of India

and governs Indian competition law. It replaced the archaic
Monopoly and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969. Under this
legislation, the Competition Commission of India was established to
prevent activities that have an adverse effect on competition in
India. This act extends to whole of India except the State of Jammu
and Kashmir.

It is a tool to implement and enforce competition policy and to

prevent and punish anti-competitive business practices by firms and
unnecessary Government interference in the market. Competition
laws are equally applicable on written as well as oral agreement,
arrangements between the enterprises or persons.

The Competition Act, 2002 was amended by the Competition

(Amendment) Act, 2007 and again by the Competition
(Amendment) Act, 2009.

Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act,

1969
An Act to provide that the operation of the economic system does
not result in the concentration of economic power to the common
detriment, for the control of monopolies, for the prohibition of
monopolistic and restrictive trade practices and for matters
connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Overview
This is an act to establish a commission, protect the interest of the
consumers and ensure freedom of trade in markets in India-

 To prohibit the agreements or practices that restricts free

trading and also the competition between two business entities,

 To ban the abusive situation of the market monopoly,

 To provide the opportunity to the entrepreneur for the

competition in the market,

 To have the international support and enforcement network

across the world,

 To prevent from anti-competition practices and to promote a

fair and healthy competition in the market.
Definitions Introduced
 Acquisition: Acquisition means, directly or indirectly, acquiring
or agreeing to acquire shares, voting rights or assets of any
enterprise or control over management or assets of any
enterprise.

 Cartel: Cartel includes an association of producers, sellers,

distributors, traders or service providers who, by agreement
amongst themselves, limit control or attempt to control the
production, distribution, sale or price of goods or provision of
services.

 Dominant position: It means a position of strength, enjoyed by

an enterprise, in the relevant market which enables it to
operate independently of competitive forces prevailing in the
market or affect its competitors or consumers in its favour.

 Predatory pricing: Predatory pricing means the sale of goods or

provision of services, at a price which is below the cost of
production of the goods or provision of services, with a view to
reduce competition or eliminate the competitors.
  Rule of reasons: It is the analysis of any activity under the
challenge on the basis of business justification, competitive
intent, market impact, impact on competition and on
consumer. It is the logic behind the conclusion for any order.

Salient Features
Anti-Competitive Agreements

Enterprises, persons or associations of enterprises or persons,

including cartels, shall not enter into agreements in respect of
production, supply, distribution, storage, acquisition or control of
goods or provision of services, which cause or are likely to cause an
"appreciable adverse impact" on competition in India. Such
agreements would consequently be considered void. Agreements
which would be considered to have an appreciable adverse impact
would be those agreements which-

 Directly or indirectly determine sale or purchase prices,

 Limit or control production, supply, markets, technical

development, investment or provision of services,

 Share the market or source of production or provision of

services by allocation of inter alia geographical area of
market, nature of goods or number of customers or any other
similar way,

 Directly or indirectly result in bid rigging or collusive bidding.

Types of agreement
Competition law identifies two type of agreements. Horizontal
agreements which are among the enterprises who are or may
compete within same business. Second is the vertical agreement
which are among independent enterprise. Horizontal agreement is
presumed to be illegal agreement but rule of reasons would be
applicable for vertical agreements.

Abuse of dominant position

There shall be an abuse of dominant position if an enterprise imposes
directly or indirectly unfair or discriminatory conditions in purchase or
sale of goods or services or restricts production or technical
development or create hindrance in entry of new operators to the
prejudice of consumers. The provisions relating to abuse of dominant
position require determination of dominance in the relevant market.

Combinations
The Act is designed to regulate the operation and activities of
combinations, a term, which contemplates acquisition, mergers or
amalgamations. Combination that exceeds the threshold limits
specified in the Act in terms of assets or turnover, which causes or is
likely to cause adverse impact on competition within the relevant
market in India, can be scrutinized by the Commission.
Competition Commission of India
Competition Commission of India is a body corporate and
independent entity possessing a common seal with the power to
enter into contracts and to sue in its name. It is to consist of a
chairperson, who is to be assisted by a minimum of two, and a
maximum of ten, other members.

It is the duty of the Commission to eliminate practices having

adverse effect on competition, promote and sustain competition,
protect the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade in the
markets of India. The Commission is also required to give opinion on
competition issues on a reference received from a statutory authority
established under any law and to undertake competition advocacy,
create public awareness and impart training on competition issues.

Commission has the power to enquire into unfair agreements or

abuse of dominant position or combinations taking place outside
India but having adverse effect on competition in India, if any of the
circumstances exists:

 An agreement has been executed outside India

 Any contracting party resides outside India
 Any enterprise abusing dominant position is outside India
 A combination has been established outside India
 A party to a combination is located abroad.
 Any other matter or practice or action arising out of such
agreement or dominant position or combination is outside
India.
To deal with cross border issues, Commission is empowered to enter
into any Memorandum of Understanding or arrangement with any
foreign agency of any foreign country with the prior approval of
Central Government.

Notable Cases.

 On 8 February 2013, CCI imposed a penalty of ₹522 million

(US$7.7 million) on the Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI) for misusing its dominant position. The CCI found that IPL
team ownership agreements were unfair and discriminatory,
and that the terms of the IPL franchise agreements were loaded
in favour of BCCI and franchises had no say in the terms of the
contract. The CCI ordered BCCI to "cease and desist" from any
practice in future denying market access to potential
competitors and not use its regulatory powers in deciding
matters relating to its commercial activities.

 On 17 November 2015,CCI imposed a fine of INR 258 crore

upon Three Airlines. Competition Commission of India (CCI) had
penalised the three airlines for cartelisation in determining the
fuel surcharge on air cargo.A penalty of Rs 151.69 crore was
imposed on Jet Airways, while that on InterGlobe Aviation
(Indigo) and SpiceJet are Rs 63.74 crore and Rs 42.48 crore,
respectively.

Review of orders of Commission

Any person aggrieved by an order of the Commission can apply to
the Commission for review of its order within thirty days from the date
of the order. Commission may entertain a review application after
the expiry of thirty days, if it is satisfied that the applicant was
prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the application in time.
No order shall be modified or set aside without giving an opportunity
of being heard to the person in whose favour the order is given and
the Director General where he was a party to the proceedings.

Appeal
Any person aggrieved by any decision or order of the Commission
may file an appeal to the Supreme Court within sixty days from the
date of communication of the decision or order of the Commission.
No appeal shall lie against any decision or order of the Commission
made with the consent of the parties.

Penalty
If any person fails to comply with the orders or directions of the
Commission shall be punishable with fine which may extend to ₹ 1
lakh for each day during which such non compliance occurs,
subject to a maximum of ₹ 10 crore.

If any person does not comply with the orders or directions issued, or
fails to pay the fine imposed under this section, he shall be
punishable with imprisonment for a term which will extend to three
years, or with fine which may extend to ₹ 25 crores or with both.

Section 44 provides that if any person, being a party to a

combination makes a statement which is false in any material
particular or knowing it to be false or omits to state any material
particular knowing it to be material, such person shall be liable to a
penalty which shall not be less than ₹ 50 lakhs but which may
extend to ₹ 1 crore.
The economics of competition law
Competition law is an economic law; it is about the behaviour of
economic agents. Economics provides a theoretical basis for the
law; it also provides the tools with which to analyse markets and
competition within them

As J. Brandeis once said “

A lawyer who has not studied
economics.... is very apt to become a public enemy”.

Therefore, for a proper appreciation of competition law it is important

to have an understanding of the economic concepts inherent in the
law.

Competition is at the heart of the market-based economy. The

Debate about the relative merits of a market-based economy
Versus a state-controlled, planned economy that raged for decades
seems to have been broadly settled in favor of the former. Countries
across the globe are reforming their economies, and undertaking
privatization and deregulation

Competition law employs a number of economic tools in

analysing individual cases; for example, an important starting
point in analysing a case is to determine the relevant market, the
purpose of which is to identify the products and services that are
such close substitutes for one another that they operate as a
competitive constraint on the conduct of the supplier of those
products and services. The relevant market comprises the relevant
product market and the relevant geographic market.

In India, economic reforms comprising, inter alia, of liberalization,

privatization and pro-competition policies, were introduced
since the early 1990s. As these reforms took effect, economic
growth surged, and consumer sovereignty has asserted itself. The
market-
based economy that has emerged is offering to the Indian
consumer competitive prices, a wider range of goods and a better
quality of products and services.

Two elements are required to maintain competition in the

economy: a competition policy and a competition law.

Competition policy refers generally to a set of government

measures that enhance competition, give primacy to market
forces, facilitate entry and exit, reduce administrative controls,
and minimize regulations. Competition law refers to a statute to
prohibit and penalize anti-competitive practices and regulate
potentially anti-competitive mergers. Competition policy and law
are mutually complementary, one trying to promote a market-
based economy as opposed to a controlled or regulated
economy, the other trying to remove impediments that may be
placed by private players in the functioning of the market
economy, and thereby maintain and preserve competition in the
market

CONCLUSION

Competition law and consumer protection policies are

complementary and mutually reinforcing. Competition in the market
increases efficiencies and encourages innovation. Competition also
creates incentives for product differentiation and improves the
quality of goods and services provided. In that sense, competition
enhances consumer welfare by providing consumers with a wider
choice at competitive prices. Consumer protection strengthens
competition in the markets. Consumers make informed decisions in
their preference for goods and services in respective markets when
they are well informed.

In jurisdictions such as India, the EU and the US, competition

law includes promotion and protection of consumer interest and
welfare among its goals. In these cases, there is a direct reference to
consumer welfare and interest. In the case law of many jurisdictions,
relevant courts or competition authorities consider consumer interest
in their decisions. Although consumer interest is one important
element of competition law, not all aspects of consumer interest,
such as safety, health, environment and privacy, can be addressed
by competition law enforcement.

The synergies between competition laws and consumer

protection laws should be exploited to promote competition and
consumer welfare. These two policies use different tools but reinforce
one another to correct market failures. Competition law facilitates
the work needed by consumer policy by ensuring effective
competition in markets, while consumer policy contributes to
strengthening of fair competition, that is, competition on merits rather
than through fraud and deception, between firms by enhancing the
ability of consumers to make informed decisions and exercise
choices,

Government support is crucial in providing the necessary

infrastructure to develop and implement consumer protection
policies and in ensuring consumer participation in developing
countries. Competition laws that are not complemented by
consumer protection provisions or separate consumer laws risk
failure to protect consumers against anti-competitive practice.