NCLT filing practice: pleadings to be printed on both sides; documents filed on the Bench’s direction must carry the order

Two circulars, one subject

The Registrar of the National Company Law Tribunal has issued two circulars (File No. 25/02/2026-NCLT(Reg.)) on how papers are to be filed before the Tribunal. Both came into force with immediate effect and apply to all Benches.

Printing on both sides

The circular of 3 September 2026 says that, in furtherance of environmental sustainability and to bring uniformity in the use of paper and printing, all petitions, applications, replies, rejoinders, affidavits and other pleadings filed before all Benches shall be printed on both sides of the paper.

Annexures and supporting documents may also be printed on both sides wherever practicable, provided readability is not affected. Duplex printing is to ensure:

• clear and legible printing on both sides;
• proper page alignment;
• continuous pagination throughout the compilation; and
• easy readability and handling of the records.

The circular applies to all fresh filings. It is issued with the approval of the President, NCLT.

Filing on the Bench’s direction

The circular of 25 August 2026 records what the Registry had been seeing: documents directed by the Bench were being filed without the order containing the direction, making it difficult to check compliance — particularly the period allowed for filing — and documents were being filed as additional documents or affidavits without any direction at all. The instructions are:

• Annex the order. Whenever a reply, rejoinder, affidavit of service, additional affidavit, written submissions or any other document is filed pursuant to a specific direction of the Bench, the order containing that direction — the Compliance Order — shall mandatorily be annexed.
• Two dates in the Index. The filing party is to indicate the date of the Compliance Order and the date on which it was uploaded on the Tribunal’s website.
• Exceptions. No Compliance Order is required for filing a vakalatnama, written arguments / short note or a judgment compilation.

If the filing is late

Where scrutiny shows that the document was filed beyond the period stipulated in the Compliance Order, the Registry raises an objection and requires an undertaking regarding the belated filing, as per Annexure-II to the Circular dated 12 August 2026. Any other defects are raised alongside in the usual course. Once curable defects are removed and the undertaking is furnished, the document is placed before the Bench under the procedure in the Circular dated 12 August 2026, with the Office Report and the endorsement “With Defects” wherever applicable.

If there is no direction at all

Where an additional affidavit, additional document or any other subsequent document is presented without a specific direction of the Bench, the Registry shall not process the filing. The party has to obtain an appropriate order or direction of the Bench concerned; on producing it, the document is processed under the applicable procedure.

What to do before the next filing

• Print pleadings back-to-back, with continuous pagination.
• Attach the order under which the document is being filed, and put both dates — of the order and of its upload — in the Index.
• If the time allowed in the order has run out, keep the undertaking ready.
• Do not present an additional affidavit or document without first getting the Bench’s leave.