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Informist, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – The National Company Law Tribunals across India have recorded the highest-ever quarterly performance, with 107 resolution plans approved in the September quarter involving INR 110 billion. Including the 78 resolution plans approved during the first quarter of the current financial year, the tribunals have approved 185 plans in the first half of the financial year that started in April. The cumulative number of resolution plans approved across NCLT benches has reached 1,735 as of Sept. 30, 2026.

 

The tribunals' record follows the Supreme Court's suo motu cognisance in April of delays by various benches in approving resolution plans under the corporate insolvency resolution process for debt-ridden companies, observing that the situation was extremely "grim and dismal". "We take suo motu cognisance of the aforesaid (issue) in the larger public interest. The issues need to be addressed on a war footing. Otherwise, the purpose of enacting IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016) would stand frustrated," the apex court had said.

 

On Apr. 29, 2026, the apex court noted that 363 applications were then awaiting approval before the tribunal. As of Sept. 30, 294 resolution plans were pending approval, while orders had been reserved for 41 more plans. This represents a reduction in the number of applications awaiting approval compared with the position noted by the Supreme Court in April 2026. The improvement in performance has been accompanied by a series of administrative and institutional measures undertaken in recent months to strengthen case-flow management, streamline registry processes and make effective use of the judicial resources available to the tribunal, NCLT members said at a press briefing on its quarterly performance.

 

The National Company Law Tribunals, with 16 benches functioning across the country, have put in place a more robust mechanism to collect and monitor data on pendency and disposal, the members said. The new reporting mechanism provides a real-time, holistic picture of the workload and pendency, enabling the tribunal to make more informed decisions on redistributing cases wherever required, they said. This has facilitated better utilisation of the limited judicial resources available to the tribunal, they added.

 

The tribunals have also introduced a new framework for registration and listing of cases to bring greater uniformity in registry practices and ensure more systematic preparation of cause lists, the members said. The framework provides for prioritisation of older pending matters, including priority for insolvency admission matters and applications relating to approval of resolution plans, they said.

 

The tribunals have also taken steps to constitute special benches where required, redistribute workloads, and maximise available court time, the members said. As part of their continuing digital transformation, the tribunals have also launched electronic-inspection and electronic-certified copy services, providing advocates, litigants and other stakeholders with more convenient and faster access to judicial records and certified copies, they said.

 

The tribunals' performance must be viewed in the context of the substantial workload they carry and the institutional capacity currently available to them, the members said. Against a sanctioned strength of 62 members, plus the president, the current working strength is 48 members, leaving 14 vacancies. The shortage of members affects the functioning of the courts, with 13 courts presently functioning on a full-day basis and 18 on a half-day basis, the members said. Four additional members are due to demit office by the end of the current calendar year, they said. 

 

The members said that issues relating to infrastructure and the availability of judges have also been considered by the Supreme Court, which has taken suo motu cognisance of issues relating to the appointment of judicial and technical members and inadequate infrastructure. The Supreme Court directed the Centre to file a status report on the basic amenities available to the tribunal and to identify the amenities urgently required. Despite these institutional constraints, the tribunals have continued to focus on effective utilisation of the judicial resources and infrastructure available to them, while taking measures to strengthen case management and reduce avoidable delays, the members said.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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