The Law Society, Faculty of Law, Aligarh Muslim University organised a webinar on “Working of Competition Commission in India: An Overview” with Anand Vikas Mishra, an alumnus of the Faculty and Joint Director (Law), Competition Commission of India, New Delhi as chief speaker on June 20.
Welcoming the guests, Mr. Mohammad Nasir, Assistant Professor, Dept of Law, delineated the impact of COVID19 pandemic on Competition Law, which is still in its nascent and evolutionary phase. “Impact of COVID-19 on the functioning of the economy may prompt companies to collaborate with their competitors to tackle the uncertainty and hardship faced. To cope with difficult business environment, businesses tend to consolidate and collaborate, and sometimes this situation runs the risk of being a breeding ground for antitrust practices,” he said. He also spoke on the perceived tensions between right to health on one hand, and freedom of trade and business on the other.
Mr. Anand Vikas Mishra spoke about the working mechanism of the Competition Commission in India (CCI). He discussed the aims and objects of CCI along with various issues of Cartels and how CCI addresses the problem. He elaborated the functions of CCI and threw some light upon the enormous powers it has, like how it can levy huge fines on those who violate the law. He made it very clear that the Commission has a neutral view and it does not discriminate on the basis of private or public company. He cited many case laws relating to the subject. He suggested that the best source to read the subject is through the official website of CCI. Mr. Mishra further discussed the career opportunities available for the students in Competition Law.
His address followed a question and answer session.
In his presidential remarks, Prof Mohd. Shakeel Ahmed Samdani, Dean, Faculty of Law and President, Law Society, said competition law aims to control monopolistic, unfair and restrictive trade practices by creating a set of policies that enhance competition or competition outcomes in the market. He told the participants that the main aim of CCI is to promote or seek to maintain market competition in India by regulating anti-competitive conducts by companies. He also advised the students to do internships in CCI.
The webinar, conducted by Abdullah Samdani, was also graced by many Faculty members from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi; Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi; Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, Rampur; Bundelkhand University, Jhansi; B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra; AMU Malappuram Centre; AMU Murshidabad Centre, etc. Participants from Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Iran also joined this webinar. Vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Abhay Jadun, Joint Editor, Law Society.