The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has rejected a complaint filed by the International Spirits and Wines Association of India (ISWAI) against Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) and the Prohibition & Excise Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh.
In an order dated September 19, the CCI said, “The Commission is of the prima facie view that no case of contravention of the provisions of the Act is made out against the OPs (APSBCL and Prohibition and Excise department), and the matter is ordered to be closed forthwith in terms of the provisions contained in Section 26(2) of the Act.”
With regard to the allegations that various clauses of Rate Contract Agreements (RCAs) are unilateral and unfair, the Commission noted that OPs had stated that conditions in the RCA were not unilateral and that OPs could not control and artificially manipulate the demand/supply conditions of alcoholic beverages in Andhra Pradesh, the Commission said.
