Madras HC dismisses appeals of Indian startups against Google's billing policy

A division bench of the Madras High Court on Friday dismissed the appeals of Indian startups who challenged Google's app billing policy but has provided interim relief by asking Google not to delist the startups' mobile applications for three weeks from the Play Store. The formal order is expected to be released on Monday, sources told ET.

The Madras High Court had in August 2023 dismissed petitions by the companies which included the likes of Bharat Matrimony, Shaadi.com, Unacademy as well as seeveral others against Google’s in-app billing policy.

The court at the time had said that the issue fell in the ambit of the Competition Commission of India (CCI). This was upheld by the court in Friday's verdict.


The interim August order was passed on a plea filed by Matrimony.com against Google’s policy. It sought relief against being removed from the Play Store for not accepting the policy.

The antitrust regulator in October 2022 had slapped a Rs 936 crore on Google and asked it not to restrict app developers from using third-party billing services.