NCLT virtual hearings open for all, link given in the cause list: Centre informs Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court was today informed that the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has opened its virtual hearing to all by providing a common link to the courtroom in the causelist. (Deepak Kholsa vs National Company Law Appellate Tribunal & ors) .A statement to this effect was made by Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma and Advocate Dev Prakash before a Single Judge Bench of Justice Navin Chawla. ."I think the apprehension stands addressed. NCLT has allowed (all entry to) hearing.. There is a common link in the cause list.", ASG Sharma said. .As far as the hearings at NCLAT were concerned, Advocate Prakash said that issue would be looked into by the Acting Chairperson soon..The Court was hearing Advocate Deepal Khosla's (Petitioner) petition to make virtual hearings at NCLTs and National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) accessible to the public including Advocates who are not involved in the case being heard. .Delhi HC issues notice in plea to make virtual hearings at NCLT, NCLAT accessible to public.After the Petitioner claimed that the virtual hearings at two tribunals were often disrupted on account of the video conferencing platform being a "free version", the Court asked ASG Sharma to take instructions on how exactly the tribunals were functioning. . "It is not adversarial..", the Court said as it pointed out that recently, government funds were allocated to DRT and DRAT to enable them to upgrade their video conferencing platform for smooth hearings. .In his petition before the High Court, Khosla had sought a direction to the two Trinunals to allow him to witness all the virtual hearings pertaining to his professional or personal interest in the furtherance of open court principle. .The matter would be heard next on December 16.