February 02, 2005, Business Line
New Delhi
Our Bureau
The Government needs to make the necessary amendments in the Competition Act to get the Competition Commission of India (CCI) working on its agenda within a year, experts in the field of competition law have said at a conference organised by CUTS International.
These amendments should focus on the CCI’s independence, autonomy and operability, the participants said while discussing the National Competition Policy Statement.
The National Competition Policy seeks to provide guidelines for different branches of government agencies to maintain the appropriate competition dimensions. Either the Planning Commission or the Department of Economic Affairs could be the forum to take up an assessment in this regard when any step or decision which will have an impact on the economy and consumers is to be taken, it said.
Taking up a pragmatic approach, the CCI should focus its advocacy agenda on business compliance education and consumer awareness.