Coal India to come under Competition Act purview, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Thursday said Coal India Ltd (CIL), a public-sector undertaking, would come within the ambit of the Competition Act, rejecting the miner’s contention that the law concerned did not apply to it because it operated under the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act.

“We hold there is no merit in the contention of the appellants (CIL) that the Act will not apply to (them) for the reason that (they) are governed by the Nationalisation Act and that the Nationalisation Act cannot be reconciled with the (Competition) Act. This is subject to the appellants having all the rights to defend their actions under the law and as indicated hereinbefore.