In this Roundup, we highlight the main developments in Indian competition law in September 2020. We also mention the recent introduction of virtual hearings by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

COVID-19

Introduction of Virtual Hearings

During the COVID-19 crisis, physical hearings before the CCI have been suspended. This has resulted in a backlog of cases awaiting hearing. Given concerns about the safety of physical hearings during the COVID-19 outbreak, the CCI has now decided to hold virtual hearings. It has introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Virtual Hearings together with a set of General Instructions.1 Participants in virtual hearings will have to provide an undertaking strictly to maintain the in camera nature of CCI proceedings, not to inappropriately share links to access the virtual hearing, not to make recordings and to ensure that unauthorised persons will not be present at virtual hearings. The CCI has also restricted the number of persons who can attend the virtual hearings. On 8 October, the CCI tweeted that it had held the first virtual hearing.

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