Sikri takes over as Competition Commission chairman

Sikri is the third chief of the CCI, which keeps tab on unfair business practices across sectors

Devender Kumar Sikri today took over as the Chairman of fair trade regulator Competition Commission and said efforts would be made to put in place a "very robust" competition framework.

Sikri is the third chief of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), which keeps tab on unfair business practices across sectors.

He was sworn in by Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley here today.

"All I can say after taking over is that we (CCI) have a very robust team in our Commission and we had very illustrious predecessors who have given it a very sound footing.

"I have taken over today and I can't comment on the specifics but as the chief I will take it forward from where they have left and put it into a very robust framework," Sikri said after taking oath as CCI chief.

Sikri, a former Gujarat cadre IAS officer, replaces Ashok Chawla who superannuated on January 7. Chawla, a former Finance Secretary, had taken over as the Chairman from Dhanendra Kumar who demitted office in June 2011.

A seasoned bureaucrat, Sikri has served in various important positions at the Centre as well as in the Gujarat government.

62-year-old Sikri had superannuated as Department of Justice Secretary in July 2013.

He holds an MPhil in Advanced Mathematics and has done an Advance Professional Course in Public Administration from Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), Delhi.

Sikri has taken over at a time when the regulator is working on ways to strengthen its human resource, create more awareness about competition norms and enhance vigil on emerging sectors to curb possible unfair business practices.

The regulator was set up in 2003 replacing the erstwhile Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission.

CCI members and Corporate Affairs Ministry officials were also present at the swearing in ceremony. The fair trade regulator comes under Corporate Affairs Ministry.

Sikri has served as Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development (WCD), Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India and Joint Secretary at Department of Fertilisers.

He has served on the boards of many companies including National Fertilizers Ltd (NFL), Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd (RCF), Indian Farmers Fertilizer Co-op Ltd. (IFFCO) and Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT).

Sikri has also been the Vice-Chairman & Managing Director of Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation and Managing Director of Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Ltd, according to a press release issued by CCI.

As WCD Secretary, he was the principal architect of the legislation on Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2013 and preparation of the Bill on Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill 2010, it added.