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Supreme Court faults NCLT staffing hijack, orders plans in 4 weeks

By Drooid · Oct 30, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

India’s Supreme Court ruled the Ministry of Corporate Affairs hijacked the NCLT’s administration.
Only 67 of 320 admin posts are filled and 16 of 63 member seats remain vacant.
Shortages force 18 benches to hold half-day hearings.
The court ordered NCLT and NCLAT presidents to submit staffing and infrastructure plans within four weeks.
It said appointment authority belongs to the NCLT president and suggested a joint meeting with the bar.

Summary

Senior advocate Meenakshi Arora warned dismissing contractual staff would breach Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.
The bench recorded the Ministry awarded an outsourcing contract on October 6 to a firm for registrar and stenographer posts.
The court refused interim relief, saying length of service alone does not justify protecting contractual workers from termination.
Chief Justice Surya Kant called contractual hires “backdoor entrants” and referenced a Bombay case where FIRs were filed.

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India’s Supreme Court ruled the Ministry of Corporate Affairs hijacked the NCLT’s administration.
Only 67 of 320 admin posts are filled and 16 of 63 member seats remain vacant.
Shortages force 18 benches to hold half-day hearings.
The court ordered NCLT and NCLAT presidents to submit staffing and infrastructure plans within four weeks.
It said appointment authority belongs to the NCLT president and suggested a joint meeting with the bar.

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