The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has introduced a significant procedural change aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and ensuring greater uniformity in the manner documents are submitted before its various benches.
Under a circular issued on September 3, the NCLT has directed that petitions, applications, replies, rejoinders, affidavits and other pleadings filed before its benches must be printed on both sides of the paper. The direction will apply uniformly across NCLT benches throughout the country and has been made effective immediately for all fresh filings.
The move is expected to reduce paper consumption while also bringing consistency to the physical documentation maintained by the Tribunal.
Double-Sided Printing Now Mandatory for NCLT Pleadings
As per the latest NCLT direction, advocates, litigants and other stakeholders filing matters before the Tribunal will have to ensure that their pleadings are printed double-sided.
The requirement covers a wide range of documents, including:
- Petitions
- Applications
- Replies
- Rejoinders
- Affidavits
- Written pleadings
- Other documents forming part of filings before the NCLT
The direction is applicable to fresh filings made before any NCLT Bench across India.
This procedural requirement is intended to create a uniform documentation practice across the Tribunal’s various locations.
Annexures Can Also Be Printed on Both Sides
The NCLT has also addressed the treatment of annexures and supporting documents accompanying pleadings.
According to the direction, annexures and supporting documents may also be printed on both sides wherever practicable. However, the Tribunal has made it clear that the adoption of double-sided printing should not come at the expense of readability.
This means that where printing on both sides could make a document difficult to read, inspect or rely upon, the requirement may be adapted accordingly.
The approach therefore seeks to balance environmental considerations with the practical requirements of litigation and record keeping.
Responsibility Given to Registry Officials
The NCLT has placed responsibility on its Registry officials to ensure that the new requirement is properly implemented.
Deputy Registrars and Assistant Registrars of the concerned Scrutiny Sections have been instructed to ensure compliance with the direction. They have also been asked to communicate the requirement to members of the Bar, litigants and other stakeholders dealing with NCLT proceedings.
The instruction is particularly relevant for advocates and law firms regularly handling insolvency, company law and corporate disputes before different NCLT benches.
Uniform Implementation Across India
One of the important aspects of the circular is that the requirement is intended to be implemented uniformly across all NCLT benches.
The NCLT operates through multiple benches across the country, and differences in filing practices can sometimes create procedural difficulties for advocates and litigants appearing before different benches.
By introducing a common standard for physical filings, the Tribunal seeks to establish greater consistency in its documentation process.
Focus on Sustainability and Efficient Record Management
The decision also reflects the growing emphasis on environmentally sustainable practices in judicial and quasi-judicial institutions.
Double-sided printing can substantially reduce the amount of paper required for lengthy pleadings and supporting documents. This could be particularly useful in complex corporate and insolvency proceedings, where petitions and paper books can contain hundreds or even thousands of pages.
At the same time, the NCLT’s qualification regarding readability recognises that procedural efficiency should not compromise the accessibility or evidentiary value of documents.
What Advocates and Litigants Should Note
With the direction taking immediate effect, advocates, insolvency professionals, companies, creditors, litigants and other stakeholders should review their filing procedures to ensure compliance.
For fresh NCLT filings, the safest approach will be to ensure that pleadings are prepared and printed on both sides, while annexures and supporting material should also follow the double-sided format wherever it can be done without affecting readability.
The latest NCLT circular is therefore more than a printing-related instruction. It represents an effort to establish a standardised, resource-efficient and environmentally conscious filing practice across the Tribunal’s nationwide network of benches.