The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would list for hearing “as early as possible” the interim plea of e-commerce major Amazon seeking preservation of Future Retail Ltd’s assets besides the resumption of arbitration over the merger deal with Reliance Retail.

Chief Justice N.V. Ramana gave the assurance after senior advocate Gopal Subramanium appearing for the US e-commerce giant sought listing of the matter on Wednesday.

Justice Ramana said the matter cannot be listed on Wednesday because of the non-availability of Justice Hima Kohli.

“We have some difficulties in constituting the bench. My sister Justice Hima Kohli has some problems, that is the reason,” Justice Ramana told the senior counsel.

The court pointed out that the matter was technically listed for hearing on April 1 by which time Justice Kohli would resume her duties.

But in case she is unable to make it by that time, the CJI said he may constitute another bench to hear the matter.

“I think by that time she may come…otherwise if required we will constitute a separate bench,” the CJI said.

Subramanium said he doesn’t mind the matter being heard on April 1.

Observers feel the dispute will get prolonged if another bench is constituted to hear the matter. It may see Reliance Retail continuing to execute its move to take over close to 1,000 Future group stores.

Reliance had started acquiring Future group stores from the last week of February. It initially took over the operations of 200 stores most of which were under Future Retail Limited.

In March, the Biyani group said it had received termination notices for 835 Future stores and 112 outlets that came under Future Lifestyle Fashions.

With inputs from Mumbai Bureau

Amazon wait

⚫ Case hearing on March 23. It got delayed because of non-availability of Justice Hima Kohli

⚫ Hearing pushed to April 1. Justice Kohli expected to be present that day

⚫ If she is unavailable on April 1, the bench may be reconstituted