Madras HC dismisses pleas of 14 firms against Google billing policy

The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed petitions by 14 companies, including matchmaking website Bharat Matrimony and edtech firm Unacademy, against Google’s in-app billing policy and said the issue fell in the ambit of the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

The court has two remaining pleas against Google: one by streaming service Disney+ Hotstar and another by Testbook, an exam preparation app.

The court said that the remedy available under the Competition Act is more comprehensive than that before a civil court. “The order of CCI is liable to be challenged in appeal before National Company Law Appellate Tribunal,” it said.