A division bench led by Justice Suresh Kait sought a response from RIL and BG Exploration on the government s appeal alleging that the two companies have been "withholding unlawfully significant amounts of public money (exceeding approximately $5 billion) which have already become due and payable" in terms of 2016 final partial award, one in a series of such awards passed by an arbitral tribunal. The matter has been posted for further hearing on September 18.