1. The present information was filed by Association of Indian Mini Blasts Furnaces (hereinafter referred to as 'Informant'), seeking inquiry under Section 19(1)(a) of the Competition Act, 2002, (hereinafter referred to as the Act) alleging abuse of dominance by National Mineral Development Corporation Limited (hereinafter referred to as the Opposite Party/OP), with respect to its mining activities and production of iron-ore in State of Karnataka. The informant represents the interests of Steel/pig iron manufacturers in Karnataka, i.e. the industries engaged in production of steel/pig iron and other associate products through blast furnace procedure. The members of the Informant association are primary consumers of the iron-ore produced/excavated by the OP from its mines. The OP is a fully owned public enterprise and is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel, Government of India. The Informant has alleged that OP was engaged in exploration and production of minerals in the states of Chhattisgarh and Karnataka and was the single largest producer and supplier of iron ore in the country.

2. The Informant alleged that the OP got exclusivity/monopoly in iron ore mining