NCLT agrees to hear Ikigai Law management dispute in camera

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) at Delhi on Wednesday decided to continue hearing the Ikigai Law management dispute in-camera, considering that there were allegations of matrimonial discord involved in the case. [Mrs Surbhi Goel v. M/s IKIGAI Business Consulting Pvt Ltd]..The case concerns a plea filed by former Human Resources and Operations Head at Ikigai Law, Surbhi Goel challenging her ouster from the firm's management by her husband and founder of the firm, Anirudh Rastogi.Goel alleged that as part of the ouster, her phone number was changed in company bank records and her email access to the company account was also restricted. Additionally, it was contended that her access to Ikigai Business Consulting's investment portfolio was also unilaterally blocked.In light of these alleged acts of oppression and mismanagement, Goel had sought interim protection from the NCLT. She had claimed that she was ousted from the management of the firm by her husband Rastogi due to matrimonial discord between them..When the matter was taken up this afternoon, a request was made that the Tribunal hear the matter in camera, since allegations of matrimonial discord have been made.The Bench of Judicial Member Bachu Venkat Balaram Das and Technical Member Rahul Bhatnagar initially queried if there were precedents where company cases were heard in camera. The counsel present replied that not everything can be live-streamed and that there are exceptions.The Tribunal eventually agreed that the matter should ideally be dealt with in camera if words such as "matrimonial discord" are going to be used. It added that if the opposing counsel also agrees to the request, it could decide on the matter today after an in camera hearing.On no objection coming forth to the proposal, the Tribunal requested all others who were not concerned with the case to leave the hearing so that the matter may be heard in camera.