SC adjourns Uber predatory price matter till March 8

New Delhi [India], March. 1 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned a matter pertaining to predatory pricing as alleged by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against Uber. An apex court Bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra has st March 8 as the nex6t date of hearing. Senior lawyer Kapil Sibbal, appearing for Uber India Systems Pvt Ltd, told the bench that the company has not been indulging in predatory pricing as is being alleged. "We are not controlling any driver, customers. Market is free and here the competition prevails fiercely, so we could not force any driver or a customer in this regard," Sibbal told the court. The Supreme Court queried whether COMPAT (Competition Appellate Tribunal) has the power to modify a Competition Commission of India's order (CCI). Meanwhile, the status quo on the CCI probe would continue till the next date of hearing, i.e. March 8. On January 27, the apex court had ordered status quo on the probe by the CCI against Uber over predatory pricing allegations by Meru Cabs and had sought response from the CCI in the matter. In response, the Compat had on December 7 2016, ordered the CCI to probe the matter. The direction had come after Meru Travels Solutions had approached the tribunal against CCI's earlier decision against ordering an investigation into the allegations against Uber. It had also asked CCI to pass appropriate order on receipt of the investigation report after giving opportunity to all the parties to file their reply or objection and affording them opportunity of personal hearing. (ANI)