CCI-CAT spat May reach SC

The Competition Appellate Tribunal has stayed the investigation of the alleged cartel between SAIL and the Indian Railways by the Competition Commission of India. A Supreme Court appeal may be in the offing..The nascent area of Competition law in India seems to facing some major hurdles already with what seems to be a major turf war brewing between the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT)..The issue in contention is the investigation launched by the CCI regarding the arrangement between the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and the Indian Railways for the supply of iron. Jindal Steel & Power had alleged that the exclusive supply by the public sector unit to the Indian Railways, is an abuse of the dominant position of SAIL. Pursuant to this complaint, the CCI had earlier in December last year, launched an investigation..The CAT, the appellate authority, has, in an order directed them to stop the investigations. This move by the CAT is obviously not sitting well with the CCI who see it as an over stepping of brief by the appellate body. Sources inform us that the CCI may approach the Supreme Court to resolve this issue..What remains to be seen is how quickly and efficiently the Supreme Court can resolve this issue because it can be agreed that any further turf wars between the two most important bodies in this field will only negatively affect the growing market.