HC expresses concern over shabby condition of National Company Law Tribunal complex in Chandigarh, directs UT Administration to find alternative site
Ceiling collapse, seepage, and short-circuits force indefinite closure of the National Company Law Tribunal.
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Lawyers appearing in the matter informed the Bench that not just litigants but even judicial and technical members of the tribunal faced safety risks, with reports of electrical sparks inside the courtrooms. (Source: File)The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the dilapidated condition of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) building in Sector 27B, Chandigarh, after its roof caved in and seepage led to short-circuits, forcing indefinite closure of court proceedings.
Hearing a public interest litigation, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry took note of a notice issued on August 19 by the NCLT Registrar stating that proceedings had been suspended due to severe water leakage and structural damage in the premises.
Chief Justice Nagu ordered the Chandigarh Union Territory Administration to identify an alternative premises where the NCLT Chandigarh Bench could function during the repair period after the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has sought exclusive possession of the premises for at least 30 days to complete waterproofing and electrical safety work, warning of possible extension depending on monsoon conditions.
Lawyers appearing in the matter informed the Bench that not just litigants but even judicial and technical members of the tribunal faced safety risks, with reports of electrical sparks inside the courtrooms.
Counsel for the petitioners stressed that repeated assurances about repairs had proved misleading. “Every submission and statement given earlier was wrong,” he told the Bench, pointing out that the roofs of the ground-floor rooms housing the court and members’ chambers had collapsed in recent days.
He argued that the situation had reached a stage of “grave urgency,” since the entire working of the tribunal had come to a halt, affecting hundreds of corporate and insolvency cases pending before it. The plea sought either immediate shifting of the Bench to an alternative location or urgent structural intervention to restore minimal functioning.
Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain, appearing for the Central Government, acknowledged that the building had become unsafe. He explained that the roof was left exposed during waterproofing work, leading to seepage. A new contractor has now been engaged, but the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has sought exclusive possession of the premises for at least 30 days to carry out urgent repairs.
The petitioners also placed on record a CPWD letter requesting suspension of proceedings for 30 to 45 days.
Directing immediate remedial action, Chief Justice Nagu observed that court work could not come to a standstill for such a prolonged period. The matter will be heard on Monday.
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