Supreme Court flags grosslypoor infra at IBC tribunals

Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: Frowning upon grossly inadequate infrastructure and huge vacancies in National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and appellate NCLAT, Supreme Court Monday said the situation is unacceptable as these two tribunals have to daily deal with Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code matters involving thousands of crores of rupees."They are govt's lifeline now. All nationalised banks, banking sector and all infrastructure projects are also matter of examination before these tribunals only," said a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana after senior advocate Sanjiv Sen on behalf of NCLT Bar Association pointed out that the tribunals' function from dilapidated buildings with poor infrastructure and a large vacancy in the posts of members was hampering adjudication.

Sen said leaking roofs, persistent seepage, and the vacancies have severely restricted business hours in the NCLT building in Delhi with most of the benches sitting for half a day. In addition, a severe shortage of support staff is impeding adjudicatory functions of available members, he claimed.Addressing the concern to govt, CJI said, "How will an institution function unless you provide the basic amenities? You don't have buildings, you don't have staff, you don't have judgment writers, you don't have proper, adequate technological inclusion."