This refers to various media reporting with respect to the order of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi on a Writ Petition filed by Google Inc. against Competition Commission of India which was heard on 15/10/2014.

Media reported that the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi has stayed an order of the Competition Commission of India imposing a penalty of Rs. One Crore on Google Inc. for allegedly failing to provide information in a probe into its alleged unfair trade practices in India. The Writ Petition No. 7084 of 2014 was filed by Google Inc. with respect to the case No. 06 of 2014 in which CCI has not imposed any penalty hence, question of stay of penalty does not arise. Issue of confidentiality was the focal point in the present Writ Petition where, order was passed by the Hon’ble Court after hearing the Counsels of the parties.

Confidentiality in regulatory investigations is central to a petition challenging information requests and media reports of penalty. Confidentiality of information in regulatory investigations is the central issue: a writ petition challenged information requests in a competition probe while media reports alleged a stayed penalty, but the regulator had not imposed any penalty, rendering a stay inapplicable; the court considered protection of confidential materials after hearing counsel.