Legal Pulse

Is this the end of the block? Possibly not despite reports of a government U-turn...

“I reject with contempt the charge that it is a Talibani government, as being said by some of the critics. Our government supports free media,” said telecoms minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, saying that ISPs were ordered today to unblock websites that did not contain pornography that were accidentally included in the secret list of 857 pornographic sites to be blocked in India online.

Hariani & Co’s Anirudh Hariani argues that The real estate sector needs one single regulator due to deal with the growing problems of delay in projects, lack of consumer knowledge, unclear land titles and unfair trade practices. Legislation for some of these issues falls under the State List.

The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) India, has published the Department of Telecommunication (DOT) letter ordering internet providers to block 857 websites.

Indian internet service providers (ISPs) received a notice from the Department of Telecommunications (DOT) two days ago (31 July), ordering the blocking of 857 websites, many of which appeared to host pornography, according to an authoritative source at an ISP.

Several pornography web sites are currently inaccessible in India on several internet service providers (ISPs).

The Delhi high court will hear a PIL by NGO Media Watch-India against all private DTH players and the Central Government for flouting existing laws regarding Direct to Home broadcasting, according to an article by the organisation on factly (republished in full below).

As the Indian food safety regulator has just announced that it would finally draft new norms for maximum lead and other heavy-metal content in foods, Advocate Kunal Kishore explains why food regulation has been neglected for far too long.

There’s a crisis in the packaged food market after Hindustan Unilever Ltd followed Nestle India Ltd in pulling its instant noodles off the shelves. Tata Starbucks Ltd, too, has withdrawn some of its products.

Chennai-based law firm Surana & Surana has lost in its Competition Commission of India (CCI) complaint against computer maker Dell India, which the law firm alleged had entered “the Indian market of computers and computer hardwares via predatory pricing and it offered its products at ridiculously low prices compared to what was offered by its competitors in India”.

Pavan Bhushan examines the law relating to what powers the law provides for Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and argues that the bid for Delhi’s statehood has been compromised by the recent fracas.

The PTI reported:

In a fresh order against DLF, Competition Commission has found the realty giant guilty of indulging in “unfair and abusive” business practices in sale of apartments in a Gurgaon housing project.

CCI has asked DLF Gurgaon Home Developers Private Limited and its group companies to “cease and desist” from such unfair trade practices, but did not impose any fresh monetary penalty as Rs 630 crore fine has already been slapped on DLF for similar violation during the same period in a separate case.

Ola Cabs is facing a complaint in the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for spending more money on discounts and incentives on customers and drivers compared to the revenue it is earning, reported the Business Standard.

The CCI directed its director general to conduct an investigation on Ola owner ANI Technologies on the complaint of Chennai-based Fast Track Call Cab against it for predatory pricing and unfair trade practices under the Competition Act 2002.

Noting a preliminary finding of abuse of dominant position against ANI the Commission observed that it is “spending around Rs 574 [per trip] while earning an average revenue of Rs 344 leading to a direct loss of Rs 230 per trip”.

Saikrishna & Associates won the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) approval for the Walt Disney movie Avengers: Age of Ultron, securing its release in theatres today after the CCI failed to find anti-competitive behavior by the Hollywood producers.