The Delhi High Court today directed the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to come up with a solution to the space crunch faced by the NCLAT as well as the inconvenience caused to lawyers and litigants while entering the NCLAT premises within four weeks.
A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and V Kameswar Rao was hearing a plea by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Bar Association seeking relief against the day-to-day struggle faced by the litigants as well as advocates to secure an entry into premises that houses the Appellate Tribunal.
The Court also took note of the limited space provided to the Appellate Tribunal in the premises, which often results in a jam-packed courtroom and also proves difficult to store the Court records and documents.
“What is the use of a Tribunal at such a place when there are so many problems.. the litigant cannot even enter the court. It is an important tribunal. It cannot function like this.”, Justice Menon said.
The Court, thus, directed,
“We direct the MCA to take note of the same in a pragmatic manner and come up with a solution that is not only congenial to the status of the Tribunal but also makes it easy for the lawyers and litigants to enter.”
Entry inside the building that houses NCLAT of its third floor as well as the premises in which the building is located, i.e. CGO Complex, New Delhi is controlled by the Ministry of Home Affairs. All persons desirous of entering the NCLAT are required to get a daily pass issued from one of the counters near the building. As a result, a long queue comprising Advocates, Senior Advocates, litigants as well as other interested parties, especially during the morning hours, is not unknown to NCLAT’s frequent visitors.
The NCLT Bar Association was represented by Senior Advocates AS Chandiok and Dr. UK Chaudhary along with advocate Shikhil Suri.
The matter would be next heard on September 20.
Read the order:
