Google's request to block Android antitrust ruling blocked by Indian tribunal.

Google's request  to block Android antitrust ruling blocked by Indian tribunal.

NEW DELHI, Jan 4 (Reuters) - An Indian tribunal on Wednesday rejected Google's request to have an antitrust ruling forcing the tech giant to alter how it approaches its Android platform blocked, giving the American company a setback in a crucial growth market.

For abusing its dominant position in markets like online search and the Android app store, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) fined Alphabet Inc.'s (GOOGL.O) Google $161 million in October and demanded that it modify restrictions on smartphone manufacturers regarding pre-installed apps.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Google's attorney, advocated for postponing the decision or delaying the CCI's directives' implementation beyond January 19 throughout the hearing. He claimed that the CCI's ruling would force the company to alter its business strategy and be detrimental to consumer interests.

The tribunal did not agree. The two-member tribunal panel stated, "We are of the opinion that at this time given the voluminous nature of the appeal, there is no need to pass any interim order."

According to Reuters, Google informed the tribunal in a legal filing that CCI's investigation unit copied portions of a European ruling against the American company from a judgment on the abuse of market dominance of its Android operating system.

Google claimed that the CCI investigators "copied heavily from a European Commission decision, deploying evidence from Europe that was not examined in India."

The CCI has not responded yet to those allegations.