Regulation 16 - Procedure for scrutiny of information or reference - CCI (General) Regulations, 2024

16. Procedure for scrutiny of information or reference. (1) Each information or reference received in the Commission shall be scrutinized by the Secretary to check whether it conforms to these regulations and the defects, if any, shall be communicated to the party within a reasonable time not exceeding, (a) 15 (fifteen) days in case of an information or reference received under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 19 of the Act ; or (b) 7 (seven) days in case of a reference received under section 21 or sub-section (1) of section 49 of the Act . (2) The information provider referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 19 of the Act or the Central Government or the State Government or the statutory authority referred under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 19 or in sub-section (1) of section 49 of the Act , as the case may be, shall, on receipt of the communication about the defects under sub-regulation (1), remove the defects within: - (a) 30 (thirty) days of receiving the intimation in case of an information or reference under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 19 of the Act ; or (b) 15 (fifteen) days of receiving the intimation in case of a reference under section 21 or sub-section (1) of section 49 of the Act . (3) In case the defects are not removed by the Central Government or the State Government or the statutory authority or the concerned party, as the case may be, as per the provision of sub-regulation (2), the information or the reference or the application connected therewith shall be treated as invalid: Provided that the Central Government or the State Government or the Statutory Authority or the concerned party shall be entitled to file fresh information, reference or application for consideration by the Commission together with applicable fees. (4) In the event of the information having been treated as invalid under sub-regulation (3), the fee paid on such information shall stand forfeited. (5) Nothing contained herein above shall preclude the Commission from using the contents of such information or reference in any manner as may be deemed fit, for inquiring into any possible contravention of any provision of the Act: Provided that the time taken in removing the defects in such references shall not count towards the period of 60 (sixty) days provided for giving of opinion by the Commission in sub-section (2) of section 21 or sub-section (1) of section 49 of the Act , as the case may be. (6) Every Interlocutory or Miscellaneous Application filed in a case shall be registered and numbered. All such applications shall be scrutinized within 7 (seven) days and defects, if any, shall be communicated to the party. The party making application shall remove the defects and submit the same within 7 (seven) days from the receipt of communication failing which the application shall be treated as invalid.