INTERNATIONAL FLAVOURS AND FRAGRANCES INC vs COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA

Judgment text excerpt

$~88 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 2527/2026, CM APPL. 12258/2026 & CM APPL. 12257/2026 Date of Decision: 23.02.2026 IN THE MATTER OF: INTERNATIONAL FLAVOURS AND FRAGRANCES INC .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Neeraj Kishan Kaul, Sr. Adv. with Mr. Harman Singh Sandhu, Ms. Manika Brar, Mr. Aashish Gupta, Ms. Dhaniya Krishnan, Mr. Sai Singh and Mr. Sohom Sarkar, Advocates. versus COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA .....Respondent Through: Mr. Vaibhav Gaggar, Sr. Adv. with Mr. ⁠Danish Khan, Mr. ⁠Aakrit Aditya Sharma and Mr. ⁠Abhishek Nair, Advocates. CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV JUDGEMENT PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV, J. (ORAL) Signature Not Verified Signature Not Verified Signed By:PRIYA Signed Signing Date:02.03.2026 By:PURUSHAINDRA 16:10:26 W.P.(C) 2527/2026 KUMAR KAURAV Page 1 of 5 1. The petitioner seeks to challenge the order dated 13.08.2025 (“Impugned Order”) passed by the Respondent – Competition Commission of India (hereinafter “Commission”) in Suo Moto Case No. 02 of 2025 passed under Section 26(1) read with Section 19 of the Competition Act, 2002 (“the Act”). 2. A perusal of the order reveals that the Commission suo moto, in terms of Section 19(1) of the Act, and on the basis of information received under Section 46 of the Act, has passed directions in terms of Section 26(1) of the Act, directing the Director General to cause an investigation to be made, and to submit an investigation report within a period of 90 days. The investigation, it appears, pertains to the alleged labour-related co-ordination on bilateral basis among certain fragrance and fragrance ingredients manufacturers viz. Givaudan (Switzerland), Firmenich (Switzerland) and International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) (US) i.e., the petitioner. 3. Mr. Neeraj Kish