The Supreme Court has asked Google to clarify whether the standards deployed in Europe can be deployed in India.
The apex court on Monday directed the tech giant to place before it by Wednesday its willingness to submit itself to a mobile technology “regime” similar to the European Union vis-a-vis pre-installed apps on its Android platform.
It was dealing with Google’s plea to stay a Competitive Commission of India (CCI) order imposing a penalty of Rs 1,338 crore for abusing its “dominant position” on the Android platform.
“We would like to know what are the steps Google has put in place in the European Union. Are you willing to place a similar regime and compliance in India? You reflect on this and come back,” Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud told senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Google.
The bench, which included Justice P.S. Narasimha, gave the oral directive after additional solicitor general N. Venkataraman told the court that Google was adopting a different yardstick with Indian and European consumers.
In its filing before the Supreme Court, Google had alleged the CCI report had copied parts of a European 2018 ruling against it.
“I would like to demonstrate before this court some shocking facts and data. Google’s grievance they are unable to comply with CCI within 90 days doesn’t stand because they are fully complying with the order passed in 2016 by the court in the EU. There they agreed to pay four billion euros. All the directions have been fully complied within Europe,” Venkataraman said.
