NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea by Google modify its January 19 order, which had asked the tech giant to make changes to its Android ecosystem, in compliance with the direction by the Competition Commision of India on October 20.
A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala said the court would not make any changes in the order, dictated in open court.
No clarification is required. Go argue everything in appeal before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal," the bench told senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Google.
Singh submitted that there is a need to add or clarify the January order.
Google is ready and willing to comply with the directions of the CCI order to the extent that it would ensure the unbundling of only Search and chrome from Play, and chrome from Search, the plea said.
In terms of the decision of the European Commission dated July 18, 2018, the appellants would ensure that the search app pre-installation exclusivity on portfolio wide RSAs would not be pursued, the tech giant said in its application.
It also asked the SC to note that search offer was made on behalf of the appellants on a without prejudice basis.
Google further said that the top court's order did not record its offer related to partial compliance of CCIs directions that was made during the hearing, it said.
The apex court had on January 19 refused to stay the CCIs October 20 order that asked Google to make changes to its Android ecosystem by January 19. However, the apex court had extended time by one week for Google to comply with the CCIs order.
The court had then also affirmed the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) January 4 order that asked the search engine giant to deposit 10% of Rs 1,337.76 crore penalty imposed by the CCI for alleged anti-competitive practices.
