Google Challenges NCLAT Verdict in Supreme Court Over Android Ecosystem Abuse

Google has officially appealed to the Supreme Court of India against the March 2025 ruling by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), which had partially upheld the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) findings that the tech giant abused its dominance in the Android ecosystem, reported Bar & Bench. 

Key Allegations Upheld by NCLAT

Unfair Play Store policies: Google was found to have imposed mandatory use of Google Play Billing System (GPBS) on app developers, while exempting its own apps like YouTube.

Promotion of Google Pay: The tribunal concluded that Google leveraged its dominance in licensable smartphone OS and app store markets to promote Google Pay, violating Section 4(2)(e) of the Competition Act.

Unfair conditions on developers: Mandatory use of GPBS was deemed discriminatory under Section 4(2)(a)(i).

Penalty Recalibration

• Original CCI fine: ₹936.44 crore
• Revised by NCLAT: ₹216.69 crore, based only on Play Store-specific revenues

Procedural Twist

• On May 1, NCLAT issued a clarification reinstating two key directives:
• Google must disclose data policies.
• Google must not leverage billing data for competitive advantage.

What’s Next?

Google filed its appeal on July 21, 2025.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case soon, potentially reshaping how digital platforms are regulated in India.