Competition Commission of India filing procedures under Section 19

Under Section 19(1)(a) of the Competition Act, 2002, any person, consumer, or trade association can file information with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) regarding alleged anti-competitive conduct. This includes matters such as cartelisation, bid rigging, anti-competitive agreements, or the abuse of a dominant market position.

Filings must comply with the Competition Commission of India (General) Regulations, 2024. Notably, the informant does not need to be the direct victim of the conduct, as the CCI conducts proceedings in the public interest. Once information is received, the Commission determines if there is a prima facie case that warrants further investigation.

There is a three-year limit for filing such information. The process is distinct from a civil suit; the informant initiates the matter, but the Commission manages the case to protect public interest rather than providing private relief to the informant.