Delhi HC asks Centre, CCI to place on record reply on Apple’s plea against audit order

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Centre and Competition Commission of India to place on record their response filed on a plea by tech giant Apple Inc challenging CCI’s direction to furnish the firm’s audited financial statements for several years. Apple has also challenged the amendment to the Competition Act, 2002, which allows the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to impose penalties based on a company’s global turnover.

A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was informed that the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs and CCI filed their counter-affidavit on Monday in response to Apple’s petition but it was not on record. “Counter-affidavit has been filed by the respondents on Monday. Let steps be taken to bring the counter affidavit on record,” the bench said. It also granted time to Apple to file its rejoinder to the respondents’ reply. The court listed the matter for further hearing on January 27. During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Apple Inc, submitted that they have received a copy of a joint reply of the ministry and CCI last night and urged the court to grant some time to file the rejoinder.