In a relief to Google Inc, the Delhi High Court has restrained the Competition Commission of India (CCI) from disclosing any information, considered as confidential by the US-based internet firm, during its probe into a complaint lodged by an entrepreneur who also runs a website. Justice Vibhu Bakhru also issued notice to CCI and sought its response within four weeks on the plea of Google Inc.
“Issue notice. Let a counter affidavit be filed within a period of four weeks. Rejoinder, if any, be filed within a period of two weeks thereafter. “In the meantime, it is clarified that any information that if submitted to Respondent 1 (CCI) as well as to the Director General by the petitioner (Google INC), which the petitioner considers to be confidential, shall not be disclosed to any party and shall be kept strictly confidential,” the court said and fixed the plea for hearing on March 9, 2015.
Google has said that it has challenged the jurisdiction of the CCI in its appeal relating to a complaint filed by entrepreneur Vishal Gupta before the panel. “The CCI lacks the territorial jurisdiction” and therefore was wrong to order a probe against Google Inc, it said. Google also said that its action to terminate AdWords account, meant to promote its Remote Tech Support services, of Vishal Gupta/Audney Inc has “no impact on competition in India” and it has “legitimately” been suspended.
