The anti-monopoly watchdog, the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission, which was to be dissolved once the Competition Commission of India started functioning, is still active because the government hasn't yet notified its dissolution.
"The government is yet to notify Section 66 of the Competition Act and unless it is notified MRTPC would continue to function like before," said an official of MRTPC.
In fact, added the official, MRTPC has been getting new cases even after the CCI has became operational.
India's antitrust body CCI, which would ultimately replace MRTPC, is an independent body responsible for investigating mergers, market shares and conditions and the regulation of firms. Section 66 of the Competition Act deals with repealing and dissolution of the MRTPC Act, 1969.
With the operationalisation of CCI, MRTPC was supposed to stop entertaining new cases and was to deal with pending cases for two years before being completely dissolved. However, MRTPC is not only fully functional but is also taking fresh cases though it's been facing acute staff shortage at all levels.
"We have been getting at least 30 cases in a month," said the official.
There are over 2,000 cases before the MRTPC, which include about 600 unfair trade-practice cases, 360 cases of restrictive trade practices and about 1,200 compensation applications.
According to an official of the ministry of corporate Affairs, Section 66 would be notified in a month or two and before it is notified CCI's strength is being increased so as to enable it to take up more work. At present, there are about 35 people in CCI. "We are adding more numbers to CCI so that it can take MRTPC work as well, " said the MCA official.