Manipal Law School and Competition Commission of India join hands to augment legal awareness and promote fair competition
Bengaluru : Manipal Law School (MLS), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Bengaluru in collaboration with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) organised a Competition Law Awareness Programme on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the MAHE campus in Yelahanka. The inaugural function was graced by Hon’ble Justice B Veerappa, Judge, High Court of Karnataka as the Chief Guest and Dr. Sangeeta Verma, Acting Chairperson, CCI as the Guest of Honour. The purpose of the awareness programme was to enable the participants to understand the role of the CCI in eliminating practices which can harm competition, and to promote and sustain competition and protect the interests of consumers, thereby ensuring freedom of trade in the markets. The event was also attended by multiple captains of the legal and corporate fields.
Addressing the event, Hon’ble Justice B Veerappa said, “Law as a subject is like an ocean; once you enter a law college, you are a learner throughout your life. Everyone knows that the legal profession is a noble one, and students of law have a greater responsibility to serve this nation. We are all like judicial soldiers who protect against injustice. I implore the faculty of this college to encourage students to join litigation. It is a field that is not for money but for serving the people. Because people are struggling now even after 75 years of independence, they (many) are unable to approach the courts.”
Speaking on the importance of the judiciary’s role in legal aid, he added, “The function of the judiciary is different from other organs of the state; it is divine. Today, the judiciary is trusted by the people, it is their last hope, and it is the only temple worshipped by every citizen regardless of their religion, caste, gender, or place of birth. It is high time for lawyers, law students, colleges, and the judiciary to ensure that the temple of justice should not crack from the inside.”
“It is critical for any regulator to have a healthy dialogue with the stakeholders. The synergy between the regulator’s efforts to create a competitive and dynamic environment in the market and the endeavours of industry participants to get equal opportunities and access to fair markets cannot be overemphasized. Therefore, I am glad that this event has been organized by CCI in collaboration with Manipal Law School to provide a platform for an open engagement with the industry on key issues related to competition law. It is our constant endeavour as a regulator to ensure the fair functioning of markets at all times and all levels. Considering the dynamic nature of the markets, CCI has always endeavoured to ensure faster market correction to ensure equal opportunities are always available to all players in online market spaces. The recent decisions of the CCI in the digital space are indicative of our commitment to making these markets more competitive, contestable, and accessible” added Dr. Sangeeta Verma, Acting Chairperson, CCI.
Prof. (Dr.) Avinash Dadhich – Director, Manipal Law School said, “The existence of laws overseeing fair competition across industries is crucial to ensure a level playing field for businesses, prevent monopolies and promote innovation. Such laws prohibit anti-competitive practices, such as price-fixing, market allocation, and abuse of dominant market position. Without such laws, dominant companies could suppress competition and limit consumer choice, leading to higher prices and reduced quality. Moreover, fair competition drives innovation, as companies are incentivized to improve their products and services to win customers. Thus, laws governing fair competition are essential for a healthy and dynamic economy, benefiting both businesses and consumers alike.”
The Competition Law Awareness Programme consisted of two panel discussions. The topic for discussion by Panel 1 was, ‘Regulating Digital Economy: Competition Law Perspective’. The panellists included eminent leaders from the industry like Ms. Payal Malik, Advisor and Head, Economics Division of the CCI, Mr. Ram Kumar Poornachandran, Partner (Competition and Anti-Trust) AZB & partners, Mr. Gautam Chawla, Partner (Competition Practice) Trilegal, and Mr. Sagnik Ghose, Director-Legal, Swiggy. This session was moderated by Ms. Sudha Hooda, Executive Director- Legal and the Director at Board of Directors, Nvidia Graphics Pvt Ltd.
Panel 2 discussed the topic, ‘Mitigating Antitrust Risk Through Competition Compliance’. Mr. Manish Lamba, General Counsel, DLF Cyber City Developers Ltd, moderated this session. The panellists for this discussion were Ms. Bhawna Gulati, Jt. Director(Law) CCI, Ms. Shivangi Sukumar, Counsel (Competition Law), Axiom5 Bengaluru, Mr. Rohan Arora, Partner (Competition Law) Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, Ms. Jyothi VK, General Counsel, and Vice President (Legal), Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd.
Additionally, Justice Veerappa who is also the Executive Chairman of the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority inaugurated the Legal Aid Clinic of MLS. The clinic aims to spread legal awareness and provide free legal assistance to the socially and economically backward sections of the society. It will also provide practical and professional training for students of MLS.