Law Society, Aligarh Muslim University organises webinar
Aligarh: The Law Society, Faculty of Law, Aligarh Muslim University organized a webinar on the topic “Working of Competition Commission in India: An Overview”. Mr Anand Vikas Mishra, is an alumnus of the Faculty of Law, AMU and the Joint Director (Law), Competition Commission of India, New Delhi was the speaker.
Welcoming the guests, Mr. Mohammad Nasir, Assistant Professor, Dept of Law, delineated the impact of COVID19 pandemic on Competition Law. The Competition Law is still in its nascent and evolutionary phase, Competition experts believe that the impact of the pandemic and subsequent lockdown would be very profound on Competition Law in India. “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.
The Chief Speaker of the event, Mr. Anand Vikas Mishra spoke 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, and told that he holds regular talks with legal firms and companies to provide the students with a good job in this field.
Mr. Mishra also shared his personal experiences and how the Faculty of Law, Aligarh Muslim University helped him in reaching new heights and success in life. After his address a question answer session was conducted between the participants and the speaker.
In his presidential remarks Prof Mohd. Shakeel Ahmed Samdani, Dean, Faculty of Law and President, Law Society, said that 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.
Prof. Samdani shared his personal experiences about his recent visit to the commission. He advised the students to do internships in CCI. He also requested the participants to share their feedback and assured them of more webinars and online event opportunities in the coming months.
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. At last the vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Abhay Jadun, Joint Editor, Law Society.