Google India can take a breather, now that company law tribunal has put on hold the fine of Rs 136 cr imposed by CCI

On 27 April, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) stayed an order of the Competition Commission that imposed a penalty of Rs 136 crore on Google for unfair business practices in the online search market. [caption id=“attachment_4342935” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] While admitting the plea of Google against the order, the NCLAT bench headed by Chairman Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya directed the internet major to deposit 10 percent of the penalty amount with it in four weeks. The NCLAT listed the matter for hearing on 28 May. A Google spokesperson said: “NCLAT has accepted our appeal for review of aspects of the CCI decision and its associated findings.” The Competition Commission of India (CCI) in February 2018 had imposed a fine of Rs 136 crore on search engine major Google for unfair business practices in the Indian market for online search. Passing the order on complaints that were filed back in 2012, the regulator said the penalty is being imposed on Google for infringing anti-trust conduct. The penalty amount of Rs 135.86 crore translates to 5 percent of the company’s average total revenue generated from India operations from its different business segments for the financial years 2013, 2014, and 2015, according to the CCI order. The ruling has come on complaints filed by Matrimony.com and Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS), back in 2012, against Google LLC, Google India Pvt Ltd, and Google Ireland Ltd.