REPORT
The Centre of Business and Financial Laws (CBFL) at National Law University Delhi (NLUD) was established to develop intellectual leadership and capabilities in the field of commercial laws, market regulations and financial services. It was formerly known as the Centre for Banking and Financial Laws, but it has since broadened its focus to cover related fields of business law as well. It aims to involve both commercial and public players in collaborative. work on idea sharing, policy proposals, and related regulatory challenges. It also aspires to provide scholarship and serve as a think tank for the business sector’s strength and soundness.
This year, on 5th and 6th November 2022 the centre organised the ‘Capacity Buiding Programme on Competition Laws’ in collaboration with The Competition Commission of India and the who’s who in the Indian Competition Law sector were resource persons in the programme. Hon’ble Mr Justice S.J. Mukhopadhyaya, Former chairperson National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, Mr Dhanendra Kumar, founding chairperson Competition Commission of India, Ms Jyoti Jindgar Bhanot, secretary and advisor competition commission of India, Ms Payal Malik advisor competition commission of India, Professor. Dr Harpreet Kaur, Vice chancellor (IC) National Law University, Mr G. R. Bhatia, partner and head of Competition Law Practice, Luthra & Luthra law offices, Mr Manas Kumar Chaudhuri, partner Khaitan & Co. Mr Samir R. Gandhi, Partner Axiom5 law chambers and Mr Aman Singh Sethi, partner Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co were the distinguised faculty who shared their unique insights and contemporary thoughts about competition laws.
The programme was aimed at building capacity among professionals and other stakeholders to comply with the competition law in letter and spirit, sensitise them to contemporary thoughts and developments, and prepare them to deal with emerging competition concerns. The programme was attended by over 100 participants across the country attended the 2-day programme at National Law University Delhi.
The programme began with an inaugural ceremony in which Prof (Dr.) Ritu Gupta delivered the inaugural address. Distinguished Professor at NLU Delhi, Dr M.S. Sahoo addressed the participants as well, followed by Prof (Dr.) Harpreet Kaur, Vice Chancellor In-charge, NLU Delhi. The keynote address was delivered by Mr Dhanendra Kumar, founding chairperson of the Competition Commission of India, who described how the competition commission came into being, in great detail.
Mr G. R. Bhatia, partner and head of Competition Law Practice, Luthra & Luthra law offices took a session on History and Evolution of Competition Law, Objectives and Tools of the Competition Act, 2002. The next session on Anti-Competitive Agreements Mr. Aman Singh Sethi, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. This was followed by a well timed lunch break. Professor Harpreet Kaur, Vice Chancellor (I/c), NLU Delhi, also a famed professor on the subject of competition law, took a session on “Abuse of Dominance”. The last session of the day was on ‘The Competition Amendment Bill: A Game Changer’ by Mr. Manas Kumar Chaudhuri, Partner, Khaitan & Co. The session provided a unique perspective on the amendment.
On Day 2, the first session was on ‘Mergers & Acquisitions, including Hostile Takeovers’ by Mr. Samir R. Gandhi, Partner, Axiom5 Law Chambers, who explained the nuances of the same succinctly and answered enthusiastic questions by the participants with ease. ‘Digital Markets, Big Data and Competition Law Challenges’ was the topic of the session by Ms. Payal Malik, Adviser, Competition Commission of India, who expounded upon the same in detail and made the daunting topic easy to understand. The last individual session was taken by Ms. Jyoti Jindgar Bhanot, Secretary & Adviser, Competition Commission of India, who spoke about ‘Competition Law and the Regulatory Architecture and DG Investigations’.
The panel discussion on the topic ‘Competition Regime and the Way Forward’, was graced by eminent dignitaries Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.J. Mukhopdhayay, Former Chairperson, NCLAT, Mr. Augustine Peter, Advocate, Supreme Court and Former Member, Competition Commission of India, Dr. M. S. Sahoo, Distinguished Professor, NLU Delhi and former Chairperson, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India and Professor Ritu Gupta, Professor of Law, NLU Delhi. The panel was moderated by Dr. Abha Yadav, Assistant Professor, NLU Delhi.
The panel discussion was an in-depth analysis of the CLRC and various challenges faced by the competition jurisdiction of the country. After the panel discussion which concluded in a healthy round of question-and-answer round, the valedictory ceremony of the programme was held where Prof (Dr.) Harpreet Kaur addressed the participants and Prof (Dr) Ritu Gupta proposed the vote of thanks.
It was an eventful and thought-provoking programme for both the participants and the speakers as everyone left with a better understanding and new insights on competition laws.
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