Rules 154 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rule 154 allows the Tribunal to correct clerical or arithmetical mistakes in its orders, on its own motion or on a party's application in Form NCLT-9 within two years of the final order. Rule 155 gives a power to amend defects in proceedings within thirty days of the completion of pleadings. Rules 156 to 158 are about entries, transmission and the typed format of orders.
Clerical or arithmetical mistakes, or errors from an accidental slip or omission, in any order may be corrected at any time by the Tribunal on its own motion or on a party's application (rule 154(1)). An application in Form NCLT-9 is made within two years from the date of the final order and does not extend to an interlocutory order (rule 154(2)). The Tribunal may amend any defect or error in a proceeding within thirty days from the completion of pleadings, on terms as to costs or otherwise (rule 155). The Court Master endorses the file and the court diary on pronouncement (rule 156) and transmits the order with the file to the Deputy Registrar (rule 157). Orders are typed double-spaced on one side of A-4 paper with a 5 cm left and 2.5 cm right margin, and Members sign in order of seniority from right to left (rule 158). Read as amended up to the National Company Law Tribunal (Amendment) Rules, 2020 (G.S.R. 80(E), 3 February 2020); these rules were not amended. Later amendments should be checked.
Rule 154: rectification of order
Rule 154(1): the power
"Any clerical or arithmetical mistakes in any order of the Tribunal or error therein arising from any accidental slip or omission may, at any time, be corrected by the Tribunal on its own motion or on application of any party by way of rectification." The power is wide in time and in who may trigger it, but narrow in subject: it is for slips, not for a change of view. For the Act's own power of rectification, see our guide to section 420; the period under that section is in the Act and is not restated here. If you think an order contains such a slip, our legal dispute resolution team can help you frame the application.
Rule 154(2): Form NCLT-9 and two years
An application under sub-rule (1) may be made in Form NCLT-9 within two years from the date of the final order for rectification of the final order, not being an interlocutory order. For the form, see the Form NCLT-9 guide. Form NCLT-9's rule list includes rule 154.
Rule 155: general power to amend
The Tribunal may, within a period of thirty days from the date of completion of pleadings, and on such terms as to costs or otherwise as it thinks fit, amend any defect or error in any proceeding before it; and all necessary amendments are made for the purpose of determining the real question or issue raised by or depending on the proceeding. The thirty days are counted from completion of pleadings, which rule 55 closes with the reply unless leave is given; see the article on rules 50, 51 and 53 to 55.
Rule 156: making of entries by Court Master
Immediately on pronouncement of an order, the Court Master makes the necessary endorsement on the case file regarding the date of pronouncement, the nature of disposal and the constitution of the Bench pronouncing the order, and makes entries in the court diary he maintains. See the article on rules 91 to 96.
Rule 157: transmission of order by the Court Master
- Rule 157(1). Immediately on pronouncement, the Court Master transmits the order with the case file to the Deputy Registrar.
- Rule 157(2). On receipt, the Deputy Registrar, after due scrutiny, satisfies himself that the Rules have been complied with and, in token, affixes his initials with date on the outer cover of the order.
- Rule 157(3). The Deputy Registrar then causes the case file and order to be transmitted to the Registry for preparing copies and communicating them to the parties.
Rule 158: format of order
Rule 158(1): typing and margins
All orders are neatly and fairly typewritten in double space on one side only on durable foolscap folio paper of metric A-4 size (30.5 cm long and 21.5 cm wide), with a left margin of 5 cm and a right margin of 2.5 cm. Corrections are carried out neatly, and sufficient space is left at the bottom and top of each page "to make its appearance elegant".
Rule 158(2): signatures
The Members constituting the Bench affix their signatures in the order of their seniority from right to left. For the signing of judgments and dissent, see the article on rules 60 to 62; for pronouncement, see the article on rules 146 to 152. The NCLAT's parallel rules are in Rules 94 to 99 of the NCLAT Rules.
Correction, amendment and format at a glance
| Rule | Subject | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| 154(1) | Rectification | Clerical or arithmetical mistakes, accidental slip or omission; own motion or application; at any time |
| 154(2) | Application | Form NCLT-9; within two years of the final order; not an interlocutory order |
| 155 | Amendment of proceedings | Within thirty days from completion of pleadings; terms as to costs; real question or issue |
| 156 | Entries | Date of pronouncement, nature of disposal, Bench; court diary |
| 157 | Transmission | Court Master to Deputy Registrar to Registry; copies to the parties |
| 158 | Format | A-4, double space, one side; 5 cm left and 2.5 cm right margin; signatures right to left by seniority |
An example
A final order in a petition by Ashoka Chemicals Limited gives an amount of 4,50,000 in words and 5,40,000 in figures. Ashoka applies in Form NCLT-9, within two years of the final order, to rectify the arithmetical mistake. The Tribunal may also correct it on its own motion. Separately, in a pending petition, the Tribunal amends a defect in a pleading within thirty days from completion of pleadings, on terms as to costs, to determine the real question between the parties.
What a practitioner checks
- Whether the error is a clerical or arithmetical mistake or accidental slip, not a change of the Tribunal's reasoning.
- The date of the final order and the two-year limit for the Form NCLT-9 application, and that the order is not interlocutory.
- The date pleadings were completed, for any amendment under rule 155.
- That the order as typed meets the format and carries the Members' signatures.
Need help correcting an order?
An error in an order can follow the parties into enforcement and filing. For help with a rectification application, speak to our legal dispute resolution team.
Key takeaways
- Clerical or arithmetical mistakes and accidental slips may be corrected on the Tribunal's own motion or on a party's application (rule 154(1)).
- The application is in Form NCLT-9 within two years of the final order and does not cover interlocutory orders (rule 154(2)).
- The Tribunal may amend defects in proceedings within thirty days from completion of pleadings (rule 155).
- Orders are entered, transmitted and typed in the manner of rules 156 to 158.
Read next
- Rules 146 to 152: disposal and pronouncement
- Rules 159 to 162: indexing, INC-28 and library copies
- Form NCLT-9: general application format
- Section 420: orders of the Tribunal and rectification
Disclaimer: Based on the National Company Law Tribunal Rules, 2016 (G.S.R. 716(E)) as amended up to the National Company Law Tribunal (Amendment) Rules, 2020 (G.S.R. 80(E)), consulted on 3 October 2026. Later amendments, fees, forms, NCLT practice directions and the Companies Act, 2013 provisions referred to should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.