New Delhi, May 18 (PTI) BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra on Monday called for urgent measures to strengthen the infrastructure and institutional capacity of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

In a letter to the Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra, Patra highlighted the growing importance of the NCLT/NCLAT ecosystem as a central pillar of India's economic and insolvency framework, while drawing attention to the difficult circumstances under which these institutions continue to function.

Patra urged the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to consider urgent measures like development of permanent and modern infrastructure for NCLT/NCLAT benches; ensuring uninterrupted courtroom operations and power backup facilities; augmentation of bench strength and permanent staffing; improved institutional support for judicial and technical members and review of the compulsory three-year rotation policy to promote continuity and specialisation.

Patra emphasised that institutions entrusted with responsibilities of such economic significance deserve commensurate institutional support and recognition.

"The NCLT and its members deserve institutional support and recognition while functioning under extraordinarily difficult circumstances," he said.

Referring to reports of a power outage earlier on Monday at the NCLT Principal Bench at the CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, which allegedly disrupted court proceedings due to inadequate backup support, Patra stated that such incidents underscore the need for a broader institutional review of tribunal infrastructure across the country.

He further pointed out that during the monsoon last year, courtrooms at the CGO Complex were reportedly flooded, compelling courts to function in shared courtrooms and half-day shifts.

In his letter, he also noted that judicial and technical members continue to discharge responsibilities from constrained spaces within temporary and rented premises, while the NCLAT continues to function from rented MTNL premises.

Despite these infrastructural and administrative constraints, Patra said the NCLT has evolved from a company law tribunal into the backbone of India's insolvency framework, delivering significant economic outcomes under mounting judicial workloads and limited institutional support.

He also noted that many practitioners appearing before the NCLT would attest to the difficult circumstances in which the institution continues to function.

"The NCLT and its members deserve institutional support and recognition -- not to become perpetual punching bags before the media, Parliament and some observations from the judiciary while functioning under extraordinarily difficult circumstances," Patra told the minister. PTI SKC TRB