Competition Appellate Tribunal

53-A. Establishment of Appellate Tribunal .-(1) The Central Government shall, by notification, establish an Appellate Tribunal to be known as Competition Appellate Tribunal,-
(a) to hear and dispose of appeals against any direction issued or decision made or order passed by the Commission under sub-sections (2) and (6) of section 26, section 27, section 28, section 31, section 32, section 33, section 38, section 39, section 43, section 43-A, section 44, section 45 or section 46 of this Act;

(b) to adjudicate on claim for compensation that may arise from the findings of the Commission or the orders of the Appellate Tribunal in an appeal against any finding of the Commission or under section 42-A or under sub-section (2) of section 53-Q of this Act, and pass orders for the recovery of compensation under section 53-N of this Act.

(2) The Headquarter of the Appellate Tribunal shall be at such place as the Central Government may, by notification, specify.

53-B. Appeal to Appellate Tribunal .-(1) The Central Government or the State Government or a local authority or enterprise or any person, aggrieved by any direction, decision or order referred to in clause (a) of section 53-A may prefer an appeal to the Appellate Tribunal.
(2) Every appeal under sub-section (1) shall be filed within a period of sixty days from the date on which a copy of the direction or decision or order made by the Commission is received by the Central Government or the State Government or a local authority or enterprise or any person referred to in that sub-section and it shall be in such form and be accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed:
Provided that the Appellate Tribunal may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the said period of sixty days if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not filing it within that period.
(3) On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), the Appellate Tribunal may, after giving the parties to the appeal, an opportunity of being heard, pass such orders thereon as it thinks fit, confirming, modifying or setting aside the direction, decision or order appealed against.
(4) The Appellate Tribunal shall send a copy of every order made by it to the Commission and the parties to the appeal.
(5) The appeal filed before the Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (1) shall be dealt with by it as expeditiously as possible and endeavour shall be made by it to dispose of the appeal within six months from the date of receipt of the appeal.

53-C. Composition of Appellate Tribunal .-The Appellate Tribunal shall consist of a Chairperson and not more than two other Members to be appointed by the Central Government.

53-D. Qualifications for appointment of Chairperson and Members of Appellate Tribunal .-(1) The Chairperson of the Appellate Tribunal shall be a person, who is, or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court or the Chief Justice of a High Court.
(2) A Member of the Appellate Tribunal shall be a person of ability, integrity and standing having special knowledge of, and professional experience of not less than twenty-five years in, competition matters, including competition law and policy, international trade, economics, business, commerce, law, finance, accountancy, management, industry, public affairs, administration or in any other matter which in the opinion of the Central Government, may be useful to the Appellate Tribunal.

53-E. Selection Committee .-(1) The Chairperson and Members of the Appellate Tribunal shall be appointed by the Central Government from a panel of names recommended by a Selection Committee consisting of-
(a) the Chief Justice of India or his nominee

Chairperson;

(b) the Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs

Member;

(c) the Secretary in the Ministry of Law and Justice

Member.

(2) The term of the Selection Committee and the manner of selection of panel of names shall be such as may be prescribed.

53-F. Term of office of Chairperson and Members of Appellate Tribunal .-The Chairperson or a Member of the Appellate Tribunal shall hold office as such for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office, and shall be eligible for re-appointment:
Provided that no Chairperson or other Member of the Appellate Tribunal shall hold office as such after he has attained,-
(a) in the case of the Chairperson, the age of sixty-eight years;

(b) in the case of any other Member of the Appellate Tribunal, the age of sixty-five years.

53-G. Terms and conditions of service of Chairperson and Members of Appellate Tribunal .-(1) The salaries and allowances and other terms and conditions of service of the Chairperson and other Members of the Appellate Tribunal shall be such as may be prescribed.
(2) The salaries, allowances and other terms and conditions of service of the Chairperson and other Members of the Appellate Tribunal shall not be varied to their disadvantage after their appointment.

53-H. Vacancies .-If, for any reason other than temporary absence, any vacancy occurs in the office of the Chairperson or a Member of the Appellate Tribunal, the Central Government shall appoint another person in accordance with the provisions of this Act to fill the vacancy and the proceedings may be continued before the Appellate Tribunal from the stage at which the vacancy is filled.

53-I. Resignation of Chairperson and Members of Appellate Tribunal .-The Chairperson or a Member of the Appellate Tribunal may, by notice in writing under his hand addressed to the Central Government, resign his office:
Provided that the Chairperson or a Member of the Appellate Tribunal shall, unless he is permitted by the Central Government to relinquish his office sooner, continue to hold office until the expiry of three months from the date of receipt of such notice or until a person duly appointed as his successor enters upon his office or until the expiry of his term of office, whichever is the earliest.

53-J. Member of Appellate Tribunal to act as its Chairperson in certain cases .-(1) In the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the Chairperson of the Appellate Tribunal by reason of his death or resignation, the senior-most Member of the Appellate Tribunal shall act as the Chairperson of the Appellate Tribunal until the date on which a new Chairperson appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Act to fill such vacancy enters upon his office.
(2) When the Chairperson of the Appellate Tribunal is unable to discharge his functions owing to absence, illness or any other cause, the senior-most Member or, as the case may be, such one of the Members of the Appellate Tribunal, as the Central Government may, by notification, authorise in this behalf, shall discharge the functions of the Chairperson until the date on which the Chairperson resumes his duties.

53-K. Removal and suspension of Chairperson and Members of Appellate Tribunal .-(1) The Central Government may, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, remove from office the Chairperson or any other Member of the Appellate Tribunal, who-
(a) has been adjudged an insolvent; or

(b) has engaged at any time, during his term of office, in any paid employment; or

(c) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Central Government, involves moral turpitude; or

(d) has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as such Chairperson or other Member of the Appellate Tribunal; or

(e) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as such Chairperson or Member of the Appellate Tribunal; or

(f) has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to the public interest.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), no Chairperson or a Member of the Appellate Tribunal shall be removed from his office on the ground specified in clause (e) or clause (f) of sub-section (1) except by an order made by the Central Government after an inquiry made in this behalf by a Judge of the Supreme Court in which such Chairperson or Member had been informed of the charges against him and given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of those charges.

53-L. Restriction on employment of Chairperson and other Members of Appellate Tribunal in certain cases .-The Chairperson and other Members of the Appellate Tribunal shall not, for a period of two years from the date on which they cease to hold office, accept any employment in, or connected with the management or administration of, any enterprise which has been a party to a proceeding before the Appellate Tribunal under this Act:
Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply to any employment under the Central Government or a State Government or local authority or in any statutory authority or any corporation established by or under any Central, State or Provincial Act or a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).

53-M. Staff of Appellate Tribunal .-(1) The Central Government shall provide the Appellate Tribunal with such officers and other employees as it may think fit.
(2) The officers and other employees of the Appellate Tribunal shall discharge their functions under the general superintendence and control of the Chairperson of the Appellate Tribunal.
(3) The salaries and allowances and other conditions of service of the officers and other employees of the Appellate Tribunal shall be such as may be prescribed.]

53-N. Awarding compensation .-(1) Without prejudice to any other provisions contained in this Act, the Central Government or a State Government or a local authority or any enterprise or any person may make an application to the Appellate Tribunal to adjudicate on claim for compensation that may arise from the findings of the Commission or the orders of the Appellate Tribunal in an appeal against any finding of the Commission or under section 42-A or under sub-section (2) of section 53-Q of the Act, and to pass an order for the recovery of compensation from any enterprise for any loss or damage shown to have been suffered, by the Central Government or a State Government or a local authority or any enterprise or any person as a result of any contravention of the provisions of Chapter II, having been committed by the enterprise.
(2) Every application made under sub-section (1) shall be accompanied by the findings of the Commission, if any, and also be accompanied with such fees as may be prescribed.
(3) The Appellate Tribunal may, after an inquiry made into the allegations mentioned in the application made under sub-section (1), pass an order directing the enterprise to make payment to the applicant, of the amount determined by it as realisable from the enterprise as compensation for the loss or damage caused to the applicant as a result of any contravention of the provisions of Chapter II having been committed by such enterprise:

Provided that the Appellate Tribunal may obtain the recommendations of the Commission before passing an order of compensation.

(4) Where any loss or damage referred to in sub-section (1) is caused to numerous persons having the same interest, one or more of such persons may, with the permission of the Appellate Tribunal, make an application under that sub-section for and on behalf of, or for the benefit of, the persons so interested, and thereupon, the provisions of rule 8 of Order 1 of the First Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), shall apply subject to the modification that every reference therein to a suit or decree shall be construed as a reference to the application before the Appellate Tribunal and the order of the Appellate Tribunal thereon.

Explanation .-For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that-

(a) an application may be made for compensation before the Appellate Tribunal only after either the Commission or the Appellate Tribunal on appeal under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 53-A of the Act, has determined in a proceeding before it that violation of the provisions of the Act has taken place, or if provisions of section 42-A or sub-section (2) of section 53-Q of the Act are attracted.

(b) enquiry to be conducted under sub-section (3) shall be for the purpose of determining the eligibility and quantum of compensation due to a person applying for the same, and not for examining afresh the findings of the Commission or the Appellate Tribunal on whether any violation of the Act has taken place.

53-O. Procedure and powers of Appellate Tribunal .-(1) The Appellate Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), but shall be guided by the principles of natural justice and, subject to the other provisions of this Act and of any rules made by the Central Government, the Appellate Tribunal shall have power to regulate its own procedure including the places at which they shall have their sittings.
(2) The Appellate Tribunal shall have, for the purposes of discharging its functions under this Act, the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) while trying a suit in respect of the following matters, namely:-
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;

(b) requiring the discovery and production of documents;

(c) receiving evidence on affidavits;

(d) subject to the provisions of sections 123 and 124 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872), requisitioning any public record or document or copy of such record or document from any office;

(e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents;

(f) reviewing its decisions;

(g) dismissing a representation for default or deciding it ex parte ;

(h) setting aside any order of dismissal of any representation for default or any order passed by it ex parte ;

(i) any other matter which may be prescribed.

(3) Every proceedings before the Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed to be judicial proceedings within the meaning of sections 193 and 228, and for the purposes of section 196, of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) and the Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed to be a Civil Court for the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).

53-P. Execution of orders of Appellate Tribunal .-(1) Every order made by the Appellate Tribunal shall be enforced by it in the same manner as if it were a decree made by a Court in a suit pending therein, and it shall be lawful for the Appellate Tribunal to send, in case of its inability to execute such order, to the Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction,-
(a) in the case of an order against a company, the registered office of the company is situated; or

(b) in the case of an order against any other person, place where the person concerned voluntarily resides or carries on business or personally works for gain, is situated.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Appellate Tribunal may transmit any order made by it to a Civil Court having local jurisdiction and such Civil Court shall execute the order as if it were a decree made by that Court.

53-Q. Contravention of orders of Appellate Tribunal .-(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of this Act, if any person contravenes, without any reasonable ground, any order of the Appellate Tribunal, he shall be liable for a penalty of not exceeding rupees one crore or imprisonment for a term up to three years or with both as the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Delhi may deem fit:
Provided that the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Delhi shall not take cognizance of any offence punishable under this sub-section, save on a complaint made by an officer authorised by the Appellate Tribunal.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of this Act, any person may make an application to the Appellate Tribunal for an order for the recovery of compensation from any enterprise for any loss or damage shown to have been suffered, by such person as a result of the said enterprise contravening, without any reasonable ground, any order of the Appellate Tribunal or delaying in carrying out such orders of the Appellate Tribunal.

53-R. Vacancy in Appellate Tribunal not to invalidate acts or proceedings .-No act or proceeding of the Appellate Tribunal shall be questioned or shall be invalid merely on the ground of existence of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Appellate Tribunal.

53-S. Right to legal representation .-(1) A person preferring an appeal to the Appellate Tribunal may either appear in person or authorise one or more chartered accountants or company secretaries or cost accountants or legal practitioners or any of its officers to present his or its case before the Appellate Tribunal.
(2) The Central Government or a State Government or a local authority or any enterprise preferring an appeal to the Appellate Tribunal may authorise one or more chartered accountants or company secretaries or cost accountants or legal practitioners or any of its officers to act as presenting officers and every person so authorised may present the case with respect to any appeal before the Appellate Tribunal.
(3) The Commission may authorise one or more chartered accountants or company secretaries or cost accountants or legal practitioners or any of its officers to act as presenting officers and every person so authorised may present the case with respect to any appeal before the Appellate Tribunal.
Explanation .-The expressions “chartered accountant” or “company secretary” or “cost accountant” or “legal practitioner” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Explanation to section 35.

53-T. Appeal to Supreme Court .-The Central Government or any State Government or the Commission or any statutory authority or any local authority or any enterprise or any person aggrieved by any decision or order of the Appellate Tribunal may file an appeal to the Supreme Court within sixty days from the date of communication of the decision or order of the Appellate Tribunal to them:
Provided that the Supreme Court may, if it is satisfied that the applicant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal within the said period, allow it to be filed after the expiry of the said period of sixty days.

53-U. Power to punish for contempt .-The Appellate Tribunal shall have, and exercise, the same jurisdiction, powers and authority in respect of contempt of itself as a High Court has and may exercise and, for this purpose, the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (70 of 1971) shall have effect subject to modifications that,-
(a) the reference therein to a High Court shall be construed as including a reference to the Appellate Tribunal;

(b) the references to the Advocate-General in section 15 of the said Act shall be construed as a reference to such Law Officer as the Central Government may, by notification, specify in this behalf.

The Competition Act, 2002

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