CCI reduces penalty on Coal India by half on 'unfair' coal supply

Upholds allegations of unfair practise and abusing monopoly against coal behemoth

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has come down heavily on state-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) for allegedly abusing its dominant market position, even as the watchdog reduced the penalty on the company by two-thirds to Rs 591 crore. CCI criticised the public sector giant for supposedly using its monopolistic position in unilaterally finalising “fuel supply agreements (FSAs)” with power producers.
 
In December 2013, CCI passed its first ruling, imposing a penalty of Rs 1,773 crore. The Competition Appellate Tribunal (Compat) set it aside and asked the regulator to take a fresh look at the allegations against CIL.