Rinima Borah Agarwal Vs India Inc. (Competition Commission of India)
In this case, the Informant, a participant and first runner-up in the 2024 edition of a beauty pageant for married women organized by the Opposite Party (OP), alleged that the OP engaged in anti-competitive conduct and abused its dominant position in the market for beauty pageants for married women in India.
The Informant stated that after paying a registration fee, she was required to purchase a compulsory training and grooming package, with the OP allegedly encouraging her to select a premium package costing ₹6.75 lakh. She further alleged that participants were persuaded to contribute funds to a charitable trust associated with the owner of the OP, with incentives such as direct entry into the competition’s top ranks.
According to the Informant, after substantial payments had already been made, the OP required participants to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement and Participants’ Terms and Conditions containing restrictive provisions. Following her declaration as first runner-up and award of the title enabling participation in an international pageant, she was asked to sign a further Winners’ Terms and Conditions agreement. These agreements allegedly imposed a five-year restriction on participation in other pageants, required prior approval for professional engagements, mandated association with social causes approved by the OP, restricted independent contractual arrangements, and granted the OP broad rights over participants’ photographs and videos even after termination.
