NCLT benches sharing courtrooms, hearing cases in half-day sittings, Bar Association tells Supreme Court

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has been operating with shared courtrooms and half-day sittings in Delhi, according to a recent filing with the Supreme Court. The NCLT Bar Association highlighted the dilapidated state of the tribunal's infrastructure, filing an affidavit on October 27. The Delhi NCLT benches, located in Block 3 of the CGO Complex on Lodhi Road, currently hold sessions in Room 621 for the morning shift and Court 4 for the afternoon shift.

Currently, only 13 out of 31 courts are functioning on a full-day basis, while 18 are operating on a half-day basis nationwide. The affidavit also pointed out safety concerns, with the roof slab of the eighth floor severely deteriorated and recommended reconstruction along with waterproofing. Additionally, a letter from the CPWD warned of potential safety risks from falling concrete.

The Bar Association suggested identifying land for a purpose-built NCLT building, with options proposed being the DTC bus depot adjacent to the CGO Complex and an area in Sewa Nagar. The Mumbai NCLT bench, operating from a leased building at Cuffe Parade, has faced issues with structural and infrastructural inadequacies, including a lack of lift facilities.

The SC was also informed about the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' discussions for acquiring leasehold land in Mumbai.