Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Corporate Affairs

11-January-2016 18:19 IST

 Shri Devender Kumar Sikri, an officer of 1975 batch of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) today took oath as the Chairman of Competition Commission of India (CCI). Shri Sikri was sworn in by the Minister of Finance, I&B and Corporate Affairs Shri Aurn Jaitley in the presence of Members and Secretary of the Competition Commission of India and officials of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Shri Sikri replaces Shri Ashok Chawla who demitted office on 7th January, 2016.

Shri Sikri holds an M. Phil. Degree, a Masters Degree in Advanced Mathematics and has also done an Advance Professional Course in Public Administration from Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), Delhi. Shri Sikri has served in various important positions in the CentralGovernment as well as in the State Government of Gujarat. In the Central Government, he held the position of Secretary, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice; Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development (WCD); Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India; Joint Secretary, Department of Fertilizers among others.

In the Central Government, as Secretary, Department of Justice, Shri Sikri was instrumental in preparing and furthering the agenda of judicial reforms including the changes in the existing procedure for appointment of Judges for greater transparency. As Secretary, Ministry of WCD, Shri Sikri was principal architect of the legislation on Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2013, preparation of the Bill on Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill 2010 and restructuring of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme. In his position as Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Shri Sikri was instrumental for guiding and release of data on various social and economic indicators for 2001 Census and preparation of complete framework for 2011 Census.

In the State of Gujarat, he has been the Commissioner, Industries Promotion, Sales Tax Commissioner, besides being Vice-Chairman & Managing Director of Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation and Managing Director of Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Ltd. He has been on the Board of several important companies like National Fertilizers Ltd (NFL)., Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd (RCF), Indian Farmers Fertilizer Co-op Ltd. (IFFCO), Krishak Bharati Coop Ltd. (KRIBHCO) and Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd. (FACT).

The Commission was established in 2003 to replace the erstwhile Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission. The Commission draws its power from the Competition Act, 2002 and has been empowered to check anti-competitive behavior and regulate mergers & acquisitions.

******

DSM/MAM

Competition law: New CCI chairman sworn in to oversee enforcement against anti-competitive conduct and merger regulation. Shri Devender Kumar Sikri was sworn in as Chairman of the Competition Commission of India, succeeding the prior chairman; the Commission, empowered under the Competition Act, is charged with addressing anti-competitive behaviour and regulating mergers & acquisitions. The release notes Sikri's senior Central and State government experience, including roles related to judicial reform, social-sector legislation and public administration, as context for his appointment.