The
Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Competition Commission of India (CCI)
to take up the three applications filed by the Alliance of Digital India
Foundation (ADIF) against Google's user choice billing system (UCB) before
April 26. The new billing system will go into effect on April 26.
The
move is being seen as a relief to digital start-ups in the country.
ADIF
had earlier sought directions from the High Court to the competition regulator
to invoke the "Doctrine of Necessity" to consider three applications.
ADIF represents startups like Paytm, Matrimony, MapmyIndia and
TrulyMadly.
ADIF
had alleged that the tech giant was engaging in anti-competitive conduct by
implementing the UCB policy. It added that the company was taking advantage of
CCI lacking quorum to look into the industry body's complaints against the tech
giant.
The
single-judge bench, however, did not pass any stay on the implementation of UCB
from April 26.
"There
is no impediment, legal or otherwise, in directing the CCI to take up the
applications under section 42 of the Act as filed by the petitioner for hearing
and considering the same in accordance with the law on or before April 26,
2023,"
"It
is made clear that observations made herein are only to the extent of deciding
the present list before this court and shall not tantamount to any expression
on the merits of the case and the same is therefore without prejudice to the
rights and contentions of all parties to be taken at the appropriate
proceeding," it added.
On
October 25, CCI imposed a penalty of Rs 936 crore on Google for its
anti-competitive conduct in the Google Play Store policies. After the
judgement, Google announced its intent to roll out UCB from April 26 this year.