COVID-19: All NCLT Benches to hear cases virtually from Jan 3 to Jan 31

All Benches of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) will hear cases through virtual mode from January 3, 2022 till January 31, 2022 in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases and the guidelines issued by the Central Government and various other State Governments, imposing restrictions and regulations on public movement..An order to that effect was issued by the NCLT on December 31, 2021. "The Hon'ble President, NCLT is pleased to direct all NCLT Benches to take up hearing by virtual mode as indicated above from the period January 3, 2022 to January 31, 2022," the notice said.The notice highlighted that the Central government and various State governments have reported spike of COVID-19 and its variant, and the present order is issued as a temporary measure in order to ensure the safety of the members of the Bar, party-in-persons, officers and staff of registry of all the NCLT Benches."The notification is issued in partial modification of earlier notification as applicable to the effect that the mode of hearing of cases will be virtual and filing of case will be by e-filing mode (SOP)," the order said.Various High Courts have already switched to virtual or hybrid hearing in view of spike in COVID-19 cases and the Omicron variant of the virus.The principal seat of Bombay High Court in view of rise in the COVID-19 cases in Mumbai, has decided to hear matters through hybrid mode with effect from January 4, 2022 until further orders.The Calcutta High Court decided to hear cases through virtual mode only from January 3, 2022.On December 30, the Delhi High Court had decided to revert to full virtual hearing from January 3, 2022 until January 15, 2022 in view of the spurt in COVID-19 cases and the consequent 'yellow alert' declared by the government in the national capital.To the contrary, the Madras High Court has decided to revert to full physical functioning from January 3, 2022 thereby stopping the hybrid hearing that was in place until now..[Read NCLT Order]