Justice Yogesh Khanna appointed NCLAT officiating chairperson

The Central government has appointed Justice Yogesh Khanna as the officiating chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

The appointment follows the retirement of Justice Ashok Bhushan as NCLAT chairperson on July 4.

As per a notification issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on July 8, Justice Khanna will function as officiating chairperson with effect from July 5.

He has been appointed for a period of three months or until a regular chairperson is appointed, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Justice Khanna has been serving as a judicial member of the NCLAT since February 19, 2024.

Before joining the NCLAT, Justice Khanna served as a judge of the Delhi High Court. He was elevated as a permanent judge of the High Court on November 8, 2016 and retired on December 30, 2023.

Justice Khanna began his legal career in the district courts in Delhi in 1986. He later joined the Delhi Higher Judicial Service in 2000 and served as District Judge in Delhi's Rohini courts.

He is also known for having presided over the trial in the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder case. As an additional sessions judge, he awarded death penalty to the four adult convicts in the case.

Justice Khanna's appointment comes at a time when the tribunal is also likely to see changes in its bench composition. Justice Sharad Kumar Sharma a judicial member of the NCLAT, is likely to move from the tribunal’s Chennai bench to its principal bench in New Delhi from July 20.

Justice N Seshasayee, who was appointed as a judicial member last year, is likely to move to the Chennai Bench from Delhi.