MRTPC has now been closed. In its place, there is now Competition Commission.

What is has done till March 2011, except release some advertisements on TV to utilise perhaps the alloted advertisement expenses is not known to me.

 

shortened on 21-11-2009

1. MRTPC [ Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission ] did not impose any fine or punishment to Colgate or Hindustan Lever in 2001-02

2. It did not levy any fine the Printing Inks manufacturers in 1975-76 against whom I also complained

3. Oct 2007: A responsible person in MRTPC has conveyed to Business Standard [ 2nd week of October 2007 ] that the commission has now only 5 instead of the earlier 19 investigating officers and so this matter may take 2 more years to probe further.

4. Business Standard  21-12-2007           

India's competition commission on Thursday ruled the cement industry was involved in restrictive trade practices and ordered an end to fixing prices in concert, seventeen years after it began its enquiry into the industry. Punishment for the companies - zero. Nothing more need to be said

5. Contrast   Business Standard  28-6-2008

"Four Airlines, including Air France - KLM and Hong Kong based Cathay Pacific, are to pay fines in the US totalling $ 504 Million for their roles in a criminal conspiracy to fix the surcharges on air cargo shipments"  ....

6. Contrast

" In the first prosecution of an individual arising from the US Cargo investigation, Bruce McCaffrey, former Quantas vice President of freight for the Americans, was last month jailed for eight months and fined $ 20000/-"  [ Selected sentences from the article ] [colured for highlight]

7. Cement Cartel issue, Business Standard 26 July 2007.

MRTPC is just now issuing a notice in August 2007 about a 2005 complaint of a Cement Cartel.

8. DGIR, investigative arm of MRTPC  the Jokes

a] 'In Delhi, the price of a cement bag was Rs 152 in April 2005 which rose to 208 in March 2006. Similarly, in Mumbai, the price shot up to Rs 231 from 181

In Delhi, the price went up by about 37% whereas it was about 27% in Mumbai. The different prices in different cities and the differing percentage rise in prices does not indicate any cartel

b] The report contented that some companies utilised their 100 % installed capacities and added'..'The report also mentioned that the cement industry was witnessing a robust annual growth of 17 % in demand and its installed capacity also increased by 1.33% due to resurgence of construction activity across the country during the period...'the industry maintained a strong growth momentum in production by 10.24%

9  MRTPC action against Printing Ink Companies in 1977   -  Toothless order  'Cease and Desist'

[ I was associated with the Printing Inks Industry between 1971 to 2003. I was Area Manager for Rainbow Inks & Varnish Mfg. co between January 1971 to September 1974. I was the Regional Manager, Ahmedabad of J.B.A. Printing Inks from Oct 1974 to Oct 1982 ]

The Case: The major Indian Printing Inks manufacturers had a price fixing cartel - Coates of India, Ganges Printing Inks, Rainbow, J.B.A, Hoogly, United Inks and 2 more companies, were the members. I complained - what happened ? nothing really ! Time solved the problem

 

	Errors and Omissions exempted.  If there be any unwanted oversights, mistake in content or suggestions for improvements,  I will be thankful for your feedback
	Personal website of R. Ranganathan M.Sc., [ MBA - IIMA]    Main / original content: 2007: last minor modification, Aug 20,  2011