NCLAT decides to hold only physical hearing from 1 August

NCLAT decides to hold only physical hearing from 1 August.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has released a Standard Operating Proce-dure (SOP) in relation to the commencement of physical hearing before the NCLAT Principal Bench, New Delhi from 1 August, 2022.

This decision has been taken owing to the decline rate of COVID-19 positivity rate in the country.

The SOP sets certain restrictions in light of the physical hearing including:

1. Only one learned Advocate per party whose case is listed for hearing that day and whose va-kalatnama is on record or who has been duly authorized by such Advocate to appear;

2. Learned Senior Counsel engaged by any such Advocate;

3. Registered Clerk only for the limited purpose of delivering heavy and bulky case files of such Advocates at the designated Court Room. Such Clerk shall leave the Court Room and shall enter again only to recollect the same;

4. It may be noted that wearing of mask, frequent use of hand sanitizer and maintaining physical distancing norms is mandatory for all entrants into the NCLAT premises, including into the Court Rooms;

5. In order to ensure strict adherence to the norm of social distancing, seats in each Court Room have been limited to bare minimum;

6. Entry in the Court Rooms shall be permitted to those learned Senior Counsels/Advocates whose matter is called out for hearing and also for the Advocates whose item is the immediate next, sub-ject to availability of space;

7. Once the matter is over, learned Advocate shall immediately leave from the designated exit point;

8. The display boards shall be functional for their convenience and information;

9. Persons displaying symptoms of flu, fever, cough etc. are requested to not attend the Court.

Additionally, it has been made mandatory for all entrants to follow the COVID-19 protocols such as wearing of mask, thermal screening, frequent use of hand sanitizer and maintaining physical dis-tancing while entering the NCLAT premises and the Court rooms.

This circular has been issued with the approval of Hon'ble Chairperson, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal for information and compliance of all concerned.