Kerala High Court Rejects JioStar’s Appeal Against CCI Probe on Discriminatory Discounts

The Kerala High Court has held that the Competition Act can apply even in regulated sectors, and that the existence of a sectoral regulator does not automatically bar the Competition Commission of India (CCI) from examining alleged anti-competitive conduct.

The judgment came in a challenge by Jio Platforms against a CCI probe into Star India’s alleged abuse of dominance in the broadcasting market.

The court dismissed the plea, stating that sectoral regulators like TRAI and the CCI have distinct roles, and the existence of a specialized regulator does not oust the CCI's jurisdiction.

This reinforces that competition scrutiny may still operate alongside sectoral regulation, ensuring broader oversight of market conduct.

[JioStar v. Competition Commission of India]