Delhi HC directs CCI to dispose off Amazon issue within 2 weeks

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to dispose off the matter of revocation of approval given to Amazon, which has been challenged by the Future Coupons Limited. The direction was issued on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which sought the High Court's intervention for protecting 6,000 traders who had supplied goods to the Future Group amounting to about Rs10,000 crore.

The CAIT has prayed that between the fights of corporate giants, traders should not suffer financial losses.

Additional Solicitor General N. Venkatraman, who represented the CCI, informed the court that the the Commission is contemplating on calling Amazon on January 4, 2022 for a hearing after which the matter will be decided. The court refused the arguments and said that the matter should be disposed of within two weeks. The CAIT was represented by Advocate Saurabh Kripal, Rajat Sehgal and others.

CAIT, through its representation to the CCI, had demanded the annulment of its approval that was granted to Amazon on the basis of their misrepresentation about the actual transaction.

Amazon's claim of control over FRL through their investment in FCPL is illegal as no-foreign company is allowed to own or control a multi-brand retail company such as Future Retail Limited.