Infrastructure dominates pending cases at CCI

Sector takes up 25% of pending cases, followed by banking and financial services at 12%

An average of one in every three investigations currently underway at Competition Commission of India (CCI) relates to the infrastructure sector, the fair-trade regulator has said.

While infrastructure sector accounts for the maximum number of pending cases with CCI (35 per cent), it is followed by banking and financial services (12 per cent).

As per the latest data in CCI's quarterly newsletter, the regulator was looking into 39 cases and 26 other cases were under investigation with the Commission's Director General as on June 30, 2012.
    
There were also cases related to film/entertainment/TV, information technology/telecom, medical/pharmaceuticals, civil aviation, petroleum/gas and automobiles, among others.
    
The pending cases are mostly related to anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant market position.
    
CCI said that 77 per cent of the cases were initiated on the basis of information filed by various entities.
    
As per CCI, as many as 116 cases were closed at the prima facie stage itself till June. During the same period, final orders were passed on 90 cases.
    
After receiving information, CCI sends the same for further investigation to its Director General (DG) if something valid is noticed. The DG, after detailed probe, sends the report to the Commission -- which again looks into the issues before deciding on the case.
    
CCI has the mandate to eliminate practices that have adverse impact on competition and protect the interests of consumers.
   
Some of the major orders passed by CCI in the recent past include those against cement companies on charges of cartelisation, as also those against realty major DLF and leading stock exchange NSE for alleged abuse of dominant market position in their respective businesses.