The Supreme Court yesterday vacated the injunction passed by the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Commission against the American Natural Soda Ash Corporation. The commission had ordered the corporation not to indulge in the practice of cartelisation while dispatching, directly or indirectly, soda ash to India. The Supreme Court held that the commission had no power to pass such an order as the MRTP Act operated only within India. Moreover, the commission can pass an order of injunction only if it is satisfied that the restrictive or unfair trade practice hurts the public interest.
The case, alleging dumping, originated from the complaint filed by Alkali Manufacturers