Rules 163 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.
Part XX is the last part of the Rules. It makes the Tribunal keep a register of appeals against its orders to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal in Form NCLT-18, requires every NCLAT order to be put before the President and Members and the Registrar's attention drawn to any direction needing compliance, and makes it the Registrar's duty to comply quickly.
A register in Form NCLT-18 is kept for appeals and petitions against the Tribunal's orders to the NCLAT, with entries made promptly by the judicial branch, and placed for the President's scrutiny in the first week of every month (rule 163). Whenever an interim or final NCLAT order on an appeal against a Tribunal decision is received, it is placed forthwith before the President and Members for information, kept in the case file, and the Registrar's immediate attention is drawn to any direction requiring compliance (rule 164). The Registrar must take expeditious steps to comply with the NCLAT's directions (rule 165). 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 163: register of appeals, petitions, etc.
- Rule 163(1). A Register in Form NCLT-18 is maintained for appeals, petitions, etc., against the orders of the Tribunal to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, and the judicial branch makes the necessary entries promptly.
- Rule 163(2). The register is placed for scrutiny by the President in the first week of every month.
For the appeal itself, see our guide to section 421 and the guide on appeals against NCLT orders to the NCLAT and the Supreme Court. The Rules do not state the time for an appeal; see our guide to sections 432 and 433 for limitation, which sits in the Act. If you are weighing an appeal from a Tribunal order, our legal dispute resolution team can help.
Rule 164: placing of NCLAT orders before the Tribunal
Whenever an interim or final order passed by the NCLAT in an appeal or other proceeding preferred against a decision of the Tribunal is received, it is:
- placed forthwith before the President and Members for information;
- kept in the relevant case file; and
- accompanied by drawing the immediate attention of the Registrar to the directions requiring compliance.
Rule 165: Registrar to ensure compliance
It is the duty of the Registrar to take expeditious steps to comply with the directions of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal.
Together, rules 164 and 165 close the loop: an order from the NCLAT does not stop at the file; the Registrar must act on any direction in it. For the NCLAT-side register of Supreme Court matters, see Rules 100 to 104 of the NCLAT Rules and, for presenting an appeal, Rule 22 of the NCLAT Rules.
Form NCLT-18: columns as printed
Form NCLT-18 (see rule 163), headed "Before the National Company Law Tribunal", is a table titled Register of SLPs/Appeals. Its columns are: Court Sl. No.; No. of SLP/appeal before the NCLAT; No. of the case appealed against; Name of the Applicant/Respondent; Date of dispatch of records to NCLAT; Date of receipt of records from NCLAT; Appeal dismissed or allowed with date; Interim direction, if any, with date; Final order in the appeal with date; Direction, if any, for compliance by the Tribunal; Steps taken for compliance; and Remarks.
A heading clash to note. The form is headed "Register of SLPs/Appeals", while rule 163 calls it a register of appeals, petitions, etc., against the Tribunal's orders to the NCLAT. The form's columns refer to the number of the appeal before the NCLAT and to records sent to and received from the NCLAT, so read the columns to see what is recorded. See Annexure A: Forms NCLT-1 to NCLT-18.
The register and the follow-up at a glance
| Step | Rule | Who | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| Register kept | 163(1) | Judicial branch | Form NCLT-18, entries promptly |
| Monthly scrutiny | 163(2) | President | First week of every month |
| NCLAT order received | 164 | Registry | Placed before the President and Members; kept in the case file; Registrar's attention drawn to compliance directions |
| Compliance | 165 | Registrar | Expeditious steps to comply |
An example
Pacific Gears Limited appeals against a Tribunal order. The NCLAT passes an interim order directing the Tribunal to list the matter and a final order later. Each order, when received, is placed before the President and Members, kept in the case file, and the Registrar's attention is drawn to the direction. The judicial branch makes entries in Form NCLT-18, and in the first week of the next month the President scrutinises the register, which shows the direction and the steps taken for compliance.
What a practitioner checks
- That an appeal against a Tribunal order is entered in the register after the Registry sends its records.
- That any NCLAT interim or final order is in the Tribunal's case file, and the Registry is aware of directions needing compliance.
- That steps taken for compliance are recorded in the register's last columns.
- The time to appeal, which sits in the Act and not in these Rules.
Need help with an appeal against a Tribunal order?
An appeal and its follow-up in the Tribunal's registry need careful tracking. For help with an appeal, or with compliance with a NCLAT direction, speak to our legal dispute resolution team.
Key takeaways
- The Tribunal keeps a register of appeals against its orders to the NCLAT in Form NCLT-18, scrutinised by the President monthly (rule 163).
- Every NCLAT interim or final order goes before the President and Members and into the case file (rule 164).
- The Registrar draws attention to, and must take expeditious steps to comply with, the NCLAT's directions (rules 164, 165).
- Form NCLT-18 is headed "Register of SLPs/Appeals", though rule 163 describes appeals to the NCLAT.
Read next
- Rules 146 to 152: pronouncement of orders
- Rules 56 and 57: execution of Tribunal orders
- Section 421: appeal to the NCLAT
- Appeal against an NCLT order: NCLAT and Supreme Court
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.