Track2Realty: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has strongly objected to the reported statement of Ashok Chawla, Chairman, Competition Commission of India (CCI) who has openly favored FDI in Retail.
The CCI is a statutory body constituted by an Act to ensure fair competition in the Country. By divulging his views and opinion in unequivocal terms by favouring FDI in Retail, Chawla has breached the sanctity and impartiality of the Commission, said Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).
Khandelwal said that in the event of any kind of malpractices, adopting unfair business means or indulging in predatory pricing, it is the CCI which has the jurisdiction to adjudicate the complaint.The statement of Chawla is pre-mature and speaks of his thought and mind on FDI in Retail. Under such circumstances, if anyone makes complaint against any MNCs, will he get fair trial and justice when the Chairman, CCI has publicly favoured FDI in retail like a stakeholder of retail trade.
The mandate of the CCI is to make the market for the benefit and welfare of the consumer, ensure fair and healthy competition,implement competition policies and effectively carry out competition advocacy etc. The statement of Chawla does not come under the ambit of mandate of CCI. Therefore, his comments favouring FDI in Retail needs to be condemned strongly, he added.
Khandelwal further said that it is a matter of fact that Global retailers are facing huge number of legal cases against them for malpractices etc. If same thing happens in India, who will go to CCI to seek justice as the statement of Chawla has put a question mark on the creditability of the CCI.
He further said that since last few weeks it has become a fashion that those holding office of profit are speaking their mind before any such matter being officially referred to. It is very unfortunate that such a statement comes from a person holding highest office in CCI.
