Fair trade regulator CCI has rejectedactor-producer Ajay Devgn’s complaintalleging abuse of dominant position byYash Raj Films, saying that there are noviolations of competition norms in thecase.Ajay Devgn Films Pvt Ltd had movedthe Competition Commission of India(CCI), alleging that YRF was using itsdominant position to ask exhibitors todedicate more screens to its own upcomingrelease, Shahrukh Khan-starrer Jab TakHai Jaan, affecting Devgn’s film Son ofSardaar.Both the films are releasing onsame day — November 13.”The Commission is prima facie ofthe opinion that there is no contraventionof the provisions of the (Competition)Act in the present case,” it said in an orderdated November 5.The CCI saidDevgn did not placeon record any datarelated to market shareor economic strengthto show how the YRFwas in a dominantposition in the relevantmarket.
“It was argued bythe counsels for theinformant that theopposite parties weredominant becauseOpposite Party wasbig banner productionhouse and had bigname and had givenseveral block busterfilms. “No enterprisecan be considered dominant on the basisof big name.Dominance has to be determined asper law on the basis of market share, economicstrength and other relevant factorsstated under… the Competition Act,” theorder said.
The Delhi High Court on Fridayasked the CCI to “expeditiously” decide onAjay Devgn Films’ complaint that its Sonof Sardaar was not getting enough singlescreentheatres as Yash Raj Films has usedits dominant position for better exhibitionof Jab Tak Hai Jaan.As per the Commission, the grievanceof Ajay Devgn Films arose due to fear thatit would not get enough theatres for ‘Sonof Sardaar’ because of the agreement ofsingle screen theatres with Yash Raj Filmsat the time of releasing Ek Tha Tiger.
