HC dismisses Kingfisher petition challenging Jet tie-up notice

The Bombay high court today dismissed a petition filed by Kingfisher Airlines challenging a notice issued by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in connection with its alliance with Jet Airways.

The commission has ordered an inquiry into the alliance between the two leading private airlines which was announced in October 2008.

The anti-trust body, created under Competition Commission Act, is supposed to act against formation of business "cartels" which may hamper fair competition.

Kingfisher moved the high court against the CCI notice, saying the amendment to the Act came about after the tie-up was firmed up, so new rules can not be applied to it. 

However, a division bench of justices J N Patel and C L Pangarkar declined to grant any relief to the Vijay Mallya-headed airline.