Info Edge-owned recruitment business Naukri and real estate business 99acres have been delisted from Google Play Store, Moneycontrol has learnt.
The apps were not available on Google Play Store at the time of writing article. However, the company’s matrimony business Jeevansathi is still available on the Play Store.
Info Edge has confirmed this development in an exchange filing, hours after the story was published. The company said that Google has taken down five of its apps including the flagship Naukri app, Naukri Recruiter, Naukrigulf Job Search App, 99acres, and Shiksha.
“The removal/delisting of the company’s mobile applications from the Google Play Store comes as a surprise, since this action was taken by Google without giving due and sufficient notice to the company” it said.
Info Edge said it is currently reviewing and evaluating the next course of action and working with Google in this regard, to ensure that the firm’s mobile applications are reinstated on the Google Play Store, in a timely manner.
This development is part of Google’s drive to purge apps from Indian app developers which the tech giant said have not complied with its app billing policy for an “extended period of time”.
Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikchandani earlier told Moneycontrol that they have been compliant with Google’s app policies since February 9, when the Supreme Court passed an interim order in a case against Google’s app billing policy. He said that all dues of Google have been paid in a timely manner.
Among other apps that have been taken down until now include matrimony firms Matrimony and Shaadi.com, streaming platforms Altt, Stage, and Aha, dating apps Truly Madly and Quack Quack, audio content platform Kuku FM, and social networking app FRND from Play Store.
This move come after the Supreme Court refused to pass an interim order protecting internet firms such as Matrimony.com, Shaadi.com from being delisted from Google’s Play Store on February 9, 2024 and listed the case for hearing on March 19.
App developers had approached the Supreme Court against Madras High Court’s order that had dismissed its plea challenging Google’s enforcement of its app billing policy.
In a blog post, Google said that it is taking such action since granting a select group of developers preferential treatment over others who are already in compliance would result in an “uneven playing field” across the ecosystem, placing all other apps at a “competitive disadvantage.”
The company claims that over 200,000 Indian developers using Google Play currently adhere to its policies.
If delisted, Google said developers can resubmit their apps by integration any of the three billing options — Google Play’s own billing system, an alternate billing system alongside Google Play’s, or operating on a consumption-only basis (without any service fee) where users have paid for the content or service outside the app.
Source: MoneyControl
