As Google Challenges Payment Policy Order, High Court Seeks Start-Ups' Stand

Google had opposed the petition before the single-judge bench on several grounds, including that since there were only two members and the chairperson was yet to be appointed, the Commission was incapable of adjudicating the application filed by the petitioner.

The Delhi High Court today sought the stand of the Competition Commission of India and Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) on Google's challenge to an order asking the regulator to look into the tech giant's policy of allowing use of third-party payment processors for paid app downloads and in-app purchases on a commission basis.

A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notice on Google's appeal against the single judge's order, which asked the Commission to consider the plea of ADIF, an alliance of individuals and an industry representative body of innovative start-ups in the country, against the new billing system on or before April 26.

Senior advocate Sajan Poovayya, appearing for the appellant entity, said he was "not asking for an interim order" at this stage.

"Issue notice," said the bench.  On Tuesday, the court had refused to grant urgent hearing to Google on the appeal on the same day.  Google had mentioned the appeal before the bench for urgent listing, saying the Commission was scheduled to take up the matter in the afternoon itself pursuant to the order of the single-judge bench.