Highlighting its concerns over the dilapidated state of infrastructure and lack of staff, the Supreme Court on Thursday instructed the presidents of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) and National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to submit detailed proposals outlining the requirements for infrastructure, buildings and staffing needed to improve their day-to-day functioning. They have been instructed to submit the proposals within four weeks.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued these instructions, while hearing a suo motu case regarding appointment of judicial and technical members and inadequate infrastructure in the NCLT.
The apex court also directed the Centre to hold a meeting with the stakeholders concerned to identify priorities.
The top court’s directions came after it was informed that infrastructure at the NCLT Principal Bench was “collapsing”, with two floors shut and courts functioning at half strength.
The apex court had earlier asked the Union Government to identify infrastructural amenities urgently needed by the NCLT benches in consultation with the NCLT president.
While describing the tribunals as government’s lifeline, the apex court had ordered the NCLT Principal Bench Bar Association to collect data on infrastructure at all regional benches in a tabulated format.
In the meantime, an application has been moved by eqyuirements
the NCLT Bar Association contending that at least 18 benches of NCLT are holding only half-day sittings because of shortage of staff. The plea stated that the tribunal has 26 judicial members and 25 technical members, including the president.
The top court was told that the sanctioned strength of the NCLT continues to be 63 members even though its jurisdiction has expanded tremendously following the enactment of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).
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