Recusal by tribunal members must strictly conform to Rule 62 of...

Recusal by tribunal members must strictly conform to Rule 62 of the NCLT Rules, 2016 and cannot be founded on counsel's communications, allegations, or perceived pressure; since the recusals were unreasoned and appeared triggered by an email and courtroom conduct rather than any statutory ground, the recusal orders were held illegal and were quashed. Administrative transfer of pending matters cannot be used to alter a bench's territorial jurisdiction; Rule 16(d) empowers the President only to transfer cases within the same territorial limits, and where transfer objections were already pending on the judicial side, administrative transfer was improper. The administrative transfer orders shifting matters from Ahmedabad to Mumbai were set aside. - HC