CCI rejects petitions against Irda, Ford, Emaar MGF

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has rejected various petitions pertaining to bancassurance, as well as the automobile, real estate and electricity sectors.

In an order, CCI rejected a petition that the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (Irda)’s manner of granting corporate agency licences to banks for selling insurance products was anti-competitive.

“The issue of abuse of dominance by Irda does not arise and no case of contravention of the provisions...of the (Competition) Act is made out against it. The information is ordered to be closed forthwith,” the CCI said.

In another order, it turned down allegations that Ford India had abused its dominant position in the market for multi utility vehicles, as well as sports utility vehicles. “The issue of abuse of dominance by Ford India and its authorised dealer, Harpreet Motors, does not arise and no case of contravention of provisions...is made against them,” it said. The case pertained to a complaint by one Sanjay Kumar, who had alleged the company had abused its dominant position by raising the prices of its vehicles.

The regulator also dismissed charges that real estate company Emaar MGF had abused its market dominance with respect to development and sale of commercial units in Gurgaon.

The case related to a complaint filed by Grammy Communications, which had applied for allotment in the company’s commercial project named The Palm Square.

The fair trade regulator also closed a case in which it was alleged Mumbai’s BEST Undertaking had resorted to unfair business practices in supplying electricity.

This followed an individual urging he be supplied electricity by Tata Power, not BEST, as was the case. To this, BEST contended the request could not be acceded. CCI also declined to entertain the complainant’s request for compensation.