Revisiting Bharti Airtel Case against Reliance Industries: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

The judgment in Bharti Airtel Ltd. v Reliance Industries Ltd. & Anr. May be remembered as a significant landscape in the Indian telecommunication industry. The effects of this decision continue to persist through the Indian telecommunication market. Bharti Airtel filed allegations against Reliance Industries for exploiting market dominance through anti-competitive practices that disrupted fair competition adversely. The case presents important legal aspects related to competition regulations and dominance abuses as well as the responsibilities telecom service providers must follow according to Indian telecommunication and competition law.
This research paper is a review to revisit the case to analyse its impact on Indian telecommunication market, competition and consumers as a key stakeholder of this market. This paper further examines this judgment with a view to find out its rationale in consonance with the Competition Act, 2002 as well as Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 with regard to fair competition and restraint of monopoly in the Indian telecom industry.
By exploring judicial interpretations and their broader effects, this study highlights the legal principles reinforced by the ruling and assesses the potential for similar cases to shape corporate conduct in competitive markets