No Entry? NCLT Bar Assn. challenges ‘daily pass’ procedure for entry to NCLAT/NCLT premises

The Delhi High Court today issued a notice to the Union of India in a writ petition filed by the NCLT Bar Association (Petitioner Association) seeking relief against the inconvenience caused to lawyers, for entering the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) premises..The matter was listed today before the Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi, Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar..Upon hearing, the Bench while issuing notice to the Union of India, directed the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs to respond by tomorrow as to what could be done to address the inconvenience being faced by lawyers..The Petitioner Association, which was constituted in the year 2000 as the Company Law Board Association was renamed in 2003 to NCLT Bar Association. The challenge has been directed at the Ministry of Home Affairs which controls the reception and access to NCLT & NCLAT premises situated at CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi..The writ petition alleges violation of Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution..The first grievance is with respect to long queues for getting entry passes made. The petitioner argues that members of the Petitioner Association/ Advocates including Senior Advocates, other members of the Bar, and professionals and their staff are compelled to spend a lot of time by standing in long queues for getting their entry passes; a process which involves them having to give their information and personal details everyday along with showing their identification document..To substantiate its point, the Petitioner Association has also relied on the process followed by the erstwhile Company Law Board which allowed entry to Advocates by displaying their accredited identity cards at the entrance..They further make a reference to the procedure followed at the Supreme Court premises, which also being a high security zone, allows entry by issuing proximity cards in a permanent form..The second issue raised in the petition pertains to entry of vehicles of Senior Advocates, Advocates, other professionals and their staff which has recently been disallowed. Only those vehicles are now allowed to enter the CGO complex, which have valid stickers issued by the Government authorities situated at CGO Complex, or stickers issued by Ministry of Home Affairs. The Petitioner Association argues that this adds to the time and efforts consumed by lawyers and their supporting staff in entering the NCLAT..The Petitioner Association has accordingly prayed for issuance of appropriate writ by the Court, which allows the members of Petitioner Association/Advocates including support staff to enter the building by showing their identity cards issued by their respective State Bar councils..It has further been prayed that vehicles of Advocates and support staff be permitted for their visits to NCLAT, and necessary signboards be installed, earmarking sports for parking vehicles of NCLAT, litigants and professionals appearing..The petition was filed through Suri & Suri Law Offices. Senior Advocates AS Chandhiok, PV Kapur, Ramji Srinivasan, UK Chaudhary along with Advocate Shikhil Suri, appeared for the NCLT Bar Association.