33. Registrable agreements relating to restrictive trade practices.

(1) ¹[Every agreement falling within one or more of the following categories shall be deemed, for the purpose of this Act, to be an agreement relating to restrictive trade practices and shall be subject to registration] in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter, namely :-

(a) any agreement which restricts, or is likely to restrict, by any method the persons or classes of persons to whom goods are sold or from whom goods are bought;

(b) any agreement requiring a purchaser of goods, as a condition of such purchase, to purchaser some other goods;

(c) any agreement restricting in any manner the purchaser in the course of his trade from acquiring or otherwise dealing in any goods other than those of the seller or any other person;

(d) any agreement to purchase or sell goods or to tender for the sale or purchase of goods only at prices or on terms or conditions agreed upon between the sellers or purchasers;

(e) any agreement to grant or allow concessions or benefits, including allowances, discounts, rebates or credit in connection with, or by reason of, dealings;

(f) any agreement to sell goods on condition that the prices to be charged on re-sale by the purchaser shall be the prices stipulated by the seller unless it is clearly stated that prices lower than those prices may be charged;

(g) any agreement to limit, restrict or withhold the output or supply of any goods or allocate any area or market for the disposal of the goods;

(h) any agreement not to employ or restrict the employment of any method, machinery or process in the manufacture of goods;

(i) any agreement for the exclusion from any trade association of any person carrying on or intending to carry on, in good faith the trade in relation to which the trade association is formed;

(j) any agreement to sell goods at such prices as would have the effect of eliminating competition or a competitor;

²[(ja) any agreement restricting in any manner, the class or number of wholesalers, producers or suppliers from whom any goods may be bought;

(jb) any agreement as to the bids which any of the parties thereto may offer at an auction for the sale of goods or any agreement whereby any party thereto agrees to abstain from bidding at any auction for the sale of goods;]

(k) any agreement not hereinbefore referred to in this section which the Central Government may, ³[by notification] specify for the time being as being one relating to a restrictive trade practice within the meaning of this sub-section pursuant to any recommendation made by the Commission in this behalf;

(l) any agreement to enforce the carrying out of any such agreement as is referred to in this sub-section.

(2) The provisions of this section shall apply, so far as may be, in relation to agreements making provision for services as they apply in relation to agreements connected with the ⁴[production, storage, supply], distribution or control of goods.

(3) No agreement falling within this section shall be subject to registration in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter if it is expressly authorised by or under any law for the time being in force or has the approval of the Central Government or if the Government is a party to such agreement.

Note:

1.  Substituted for the words "any agreement relating to a restrictive trade practice falling within one or more of the following categories shall be subject to registration" by Act No. 30 of 1984, w.e.f. 1st. August, 1984.

2. Inserted by Act No. 30 of 1984, w.e.f. 1st. August, 1984.

3. Substituted for the words "by notification in the Official Gazette" by Act No. 30 of 1984, w.e.f. 1st. August, 1984.

4. Substituted by Act No. 30 of 1984, for the words "production, supply".