NCLT shifts to double-sided A4 paper filings across all benches

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has issued a circular mandating the use of A4-size paper with double-sided (duplex) printing for all filings across every Bench with immediate effect.

The procedural reform is aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and standardising registry practices.

According to a circular issued on September 3, all petitions, applications, replies, rejoinders, affidavits, and accompanying pleadings submitted to NCLT registries nationwide must adhere to the duplex A4 standard.

The move addresses a long-pending demand from practitioners and litigants to modernise registry operations and discard the archaic reliance on single-sided, legal-size sheets, a legacy dating back to colonial-era administrative routines.

The push gained formal momentum in November 2021, when representations were submitted before the leadership of the NCLT and the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

Advocates pointed out that corporate and government litigants almost exclusively conduct day-to-day operations using standard A4 paper, while legal-size sheets remain largely confined to court corridors.

The reform brings the company law tribunal in direct harmony with the broader Indian judiciary.

In early 2020, the Supreme Court of India approved the use of A4 paper printed on both sides to curb paper consumption. Soon after, several High Courts across the country including Delhi, Bombay, Allahabad, Karnataka, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand issued administrative orders permitting uniform duplex filings.

The procedural transition carries practical and environmental significance for insolvency and company matters since corporate litigation before the NCLT is document-heavy, frequently involving thousands of pages and voluminous annexures.

Enforcing duplex printing on universally accessible paper is expected to lower storage and registry burdens and reduce printing expenses for litigants.