Thursday, the Supreme Court denied Google’s petition against the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) ruling refusing an interim stay on a 1,337 crore penalty for suspected anti-competitive activities.

The court has referred Google’s appeal back to the Tribunal, requesting a decision by March 31.

The Supreme Court has granted Google India one week to comply with the NCLAT ruling mandating the internet giant to deposit 10% of the 1,337.76 crore anti-competitive practises penalty levied by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala granted the American company seven days to pay 10% of the Competition Commission of India’s fine (CCI).

Google has also been instructed to contact the NCLAT within three business days of Thursday for a ruling on its appeal of the CCI order. Previously, the NCLAT had refused to intervene on the competition regulator’s order, requiring Google to pay 10% of the penalty sum.

Prior to his appearance before the Supreme Court, Additional Solicitor General of India N Venkataraman informed the court that Google applied different norms in Europe and India. According to him, Google complied with a similar directive issued by the European Commission.

The competition commission fined the search engine company 1,337 crore in October 2022 for allegedly abusing its dominant position in the Android mobile ecosystem. It also ordered the internet giant to cease and desist from engaging in anticompetitive conduct.

Google appealed the CCI’s directive to the NCLAT, which has appellate jurisdiction over any directive issued by the regulator.