More Stories

Informist, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026

 

--HC rejects UltraTech plea against allowing builder association in CCI case 

--CONTEXT:CCI hears cartelisation, price manipulation case against UltraTech

 

NEW DELHI – The division bench of the Delhi High Court Tuesday rejected UltraTech Cement Ltd.'s appeal challenging a single-judge order allowing the Builders Association of India to be made a party to an antitrust case involving the company and being heard by the Competition Commission of India. The case pertains to cartelisation and price manipulation by grey cement manufacturers such as UltraTech Cement.

 

In 2019, the competition regulator had received multiple letters and emails from various market participants, including customer trade associations and dealers, alleging that the conduct of grey cement manufacturers had adverse competitive effects within the country. Among these was a letter by the Builders Association of India, which alleged that cartelisation by grey cement manufacturers was resulting in an abnormal increase in prices of the commodity.

 

Thereafter, the antitrust watchdog had passed a suo motu order instructing its director general to initiate an investigation into the allegations against several grey cement manufacturers. In 2023, the competition regulator impleaded the Builders Association of India as a party in the case, noting that it had substantial interest in the outcome of the proceedings, and that it was necessary for a meaningful inquiry. The competition regulator also allowed the Builders Association of India to inspect non-confidential records in the case.

 

Challenging the antitrust watchdog's order, UltraTech Cement moved the single judge of the high court, which had upheld the competition regulator's order. Consequently, UltraTech Cement appealed before the division bench of the court in 2024. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, advocate for UltraTech Cement, had said the competition regulator had passed an ex-parte order that made the Builders Association of India a party in the case. The competition regulator, he said, should have granted UltraTech Cement a hearing in the case.

 

At 1102 IST, shares of UltraTech Cement Ltd. were down 0.9% at INR 11,073.00 on the National Stock Exchange.  End

 

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

 

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

 

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd. by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt. Ltd.

 

Informist Media Tel +91 (11) 4220-1000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

 

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.