Tribunals Are Govt’s Lifeline, How Will They Function With No Infrastructure: Apex Court Asks Centre To Identify Required Amenities

Observing that tribunals are government's lifeline, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana also ordered the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Principal Bench Bar Association to collect data on infrastructure at all regional benches in a tabulated format.

"How will the tribunals function if there is no infrastructure? Every day they deal with thousands of crores of issues...They are the government's lifeline," the bench remarked.

The Apex Court was hearing a suo motu case regarding appointment of judicial and technical members and inadequate infrastructure in the NCLT.

The NCLT Bar Association has filed an application in a pending matter contending that at least 18 benches of NCLT are holding only half-day sittings because of shortage of members.

The Association told the Apex Court that the sanctioned strength of the NCLT continues to be 63 members even though its jurisdiction substantially expanded after the enactment of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

The plea stated that as of June 30, 2026, the tribunal has 26 judicial members and 25 technical members, including the president.