Google challenged the directive in the Supreme Court saying it would harm consumers and its business, warning that the development of the Android ecosystem could be stalled.
A three-judge bench, comprising the Chief Justice of India, deferred by a week the date for the CCI directions to come into effect on January 19, but refused to stay the decision despite Google’s repeated requests done.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said, “We are not inclined to interfere.”
During the hearing, Chandrachud told Google: “Look at the kind of authority you have in terms of dominance.”
India’s top court told a lower tribunal, which is already hearing the case, by March 31 to decide on Google’s challenge.
Google licenses its Android system to smartphone makers, but critics say it imposes restrictions such as mandatory pre-installation of its own apps that are anti-competitive. The company argues that such agreements help keep Android free.