Rules 19 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 III of the Rules, on institution of appeals, begins with three rules about how an appeal must look. Rule 19 sets language, typing, margins, paragraphs and the cause title, rule 20 lists what an address for service should contain, and rule 21 requires corrections to be initialled. Getting these wrong is a common reason for a filing to be returned at scrutiny.
An appeal must be in English (or accompanied by an English translation), typed or printed in double spacing on one side of standard paper, with a left margin of 5 cm and a right margin of 2.5 cm, paginated, indexed and stitched as a paper book. The cause title reads "In the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal" and sets out the order appealed against. Parties are numbered consecutively, and every erasure or correction is initialled. The Rules are read as amended up to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (Amendment) Rules, 2017 (G.S.R. 1061(E), 23 August 2017).
Rule 19: procedure for proceedings
Rule 19(1): language and layout
Every appeal must be in English. If it is in another Indian language, a copy translated into English must accompany it. The appeal must be fairly and legibly typewritten or printed in double spacing on one side of standard paper, with an inner margin of about four centimetres on top, a right margin of 2.5 cm and a left margin of 5 cm, duly paginated, indexed and stitched together in paper book form.
Rule 19(2): cause title
The cause title must state "In the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal" and set out the proceedings or the order of the authority against which the appeal is preferred. For an appeal under section 421 that means identifying the NCLT order challenged. Form NCLAT-1, which is the form for the appeal itself, repeats the heading "In the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal at New Delhi, Appellate Jurisdiction"; it is covered in the article on rule 22.
Rule 19(3) to (4): paragraphs and dates
- The appeal is divided into consecutively numbered paragraphs, each containing, as nearly as may be, a separate fact, allegation or point.
- Where Saka or other dates are used, the corresponding Gregorian dates must also be given.
Rule 19(5) to (7): parties
- The full name, parentage, description of each party and address, and, where a party sues or is sued in a representative character, that capacity, are set out at the beginning of the appeal and need not be repeated later in the same appeal.
- Names are numbered consecutively, each party on a separate line. The numbers do not change. If a party dies while the appeal is pending, the legal heirs or representatives, if more than one, are shown by sub-numbers.
- Fresh parties brought in are numbered consecutively in the category in which they come in.
Rule 19(8): provision of law
Every proceeding must state, immediately after the cause title, the provision of law under which it is preferred. For an appeal against an NCLT order this will name section 421; our post on section 421 of the Companies Act, 2013 explains the right of appeal.
Rule 20: particulars in the address for service
The address for service of summons is filed with every appeal on behalf of a party and, as far as possible, contains:
| Item | Contents |
|---|---|
| (a) | name of the road, street, lane and Municipal Division or Ward, Municipal Door and other number of the house |
| (b) | name of the town or village |
| (c) | post office, postal district and PIN Code |
| (d) | any other particular needed to identify the addressee, such as fax number, mobile number and e-mail address, if any |
The words "as far as possible" and "if any" make some items flexible, but the postal particulars in (a) to (c) are the base. A correct address matters because notice under rule 48 and private service under rule 49 depend on it; see the article on notice of appeals.
Rule 21: initialling alteration
Every interlineation, erasure, correction or deletion in any appeal must be initialled by the party or the authorised representative. A fair copy with visible hand corrections but no initials does not satisfy the rule's words.
Same as before the NCLT?
Largely, with these differences. The NCLT rule 20 covers every "appeal or petition or application or caveat petition or objection or counter" and allows "lithographed" copies as well as typed or printed ones; the NCLAT rule 19 speaks of an "appeal". The NCLT cause title reads "Before the National Company Law Tribunal" and also names the Bench. The NCLT party rule asks for "age" along with name and parentage, while the NCLAT rule does not. The NCLT address rule also applies to a caveat, and speaks of a "valid" e-mail address. The NCLAT Rules have no caveat rule. See Rules 20 to 22 of the NCLT Rules.
A pre-filing checklist
| Check | Rule |
|---|---|
| Appeal in English, or English translation attached | 19(1) |
| Double spacing, one side, left margin 5 cm, right margin 2.5 cm | 19(1) |
| Paginated, indexed, stitched as a paper book | 19(1) |
| Cause title "In the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal" and the order appealed against | 19(2) |
| Numbered paragraphs, one point each | 19(3) |
| Gregorian equivalents for any Saka date | 19(4) |
| Party details at the start; separate numbered line for each party | 19(5)-(6) |
| Provision of law stated after the cause title | 19(8) |
| Address for service with PIN code and any contact details | 20 |
| All corrections initialled | 21 |
An appeal in Form NCLAT-1 is presented in triplicate under rule 22, and the filing counter checks the papers on receipt; see the article on scrutiny of defects. For the wider picture of appearing before the Appellate Tribunal, see our post on appearing before the NCLAT.
An example
Kestrel Logistics Private Limited, with its registered office in Gurugram, appeals against an NCLT order. Its first draft carries the date of an order in Saka form only, uses single spacing and shows two hand corrections without initials. Under rules 19 and 21 the draft needs the Gregorian date, double spacing and initials on each correction before it goes to the filing counter. Handing the draft to professionals who file before the Appellate Tribunal regularly, through our dispute resolution service, avoids a round of returns.
Need help drafting an appeal in the right form?
Format defects are avoidable. If you have an NCLT order to challenge and want the memorandum of appeal prepared, checked and filed in the manner the Rules require, get in touch with our dispute resolution team.
Key takeaways
- Appeals must be in English, double spaced, on one side, with left margin 5 cm and right margin 2.5 cm, and stitched as a paper book.
- The cause title is "In the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal" followed by the order appealed against.
- Parties are numbered consecutively; legal heirs take sub-numbers; the provision of law follows the cause title.
- The address for service should carry postal details, PIN code and any contact particulars.
- Every correction is initialled by the party or the authorised representative.
Read next
- Rule 22: presenting an appeal in Form NCLAT-1
- Rules 23-26: copies, verification and scrutiny of defects
- Rules 20-22 of the NCLT Rules
- Appearing before the NCLAT
Disclaimer: Based on the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal Rules, 2016 (G.S.R. 717(E)) as amended up to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (Amendment) Rules, 2017 (G.S.R. 1061(E)), consulted on 3 October 2026. Later amendments, fees, forms, NCLAT 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.