Page 2 - Nclat

NCLAT rejects Reliance Realty plea, orders liquidation be completed quickly

The appellate tribunal NCLAT has set aside an appeal filed by Reliance Realty, a step-down entity of debt-ridden Reliance Communications, seeking recovery of rental and assets from Independent TV, a firm which was in the DTH business and is now facing liquidation. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has upheld the earlier order passed by the Mumbai bench of NCLT, which had declined Reliance Realty's plea and said the liquidation process of Independent TV (formally known as Reliance Big TV) has to be completed in a time-bound manner and in the shortest possible time. A two-member bench said the liquidation process should not be "disrupted and derailed by the Appellant (Reliance Realty) who for no cogent reasons had never agitated the issue of ownership of assets lying in the leased premises". "We do not find any infirmity in the impugned order allowing the Liquidator to remove all moveable assets of the Corporate Debtor lying at the leased premises and in restraining

NCLAT quashes CCI's WhatsApp-Meta data ban, upholds ₹213 crore penalty

The tribunal said CCI's five-year ban on WhatsApp data sharing with Meta was unwarranted but upheld the Rs 213 crore penalty, ruling no abuse of dominance in the messaging market

NCLAT overturns CCI ban on Whatsapp sharing user data with Meta platforms

Appellate tribunal NCLAT on Tuesday set aside a section of a Competition Commission of India (CCI) order that had banned WhatsApp from sharing data with Meta Platforms for advertising purposes for five years. Modifying the order passed by the CCI on November 18, 2024, the NCLAT set aside section 247.1 of the 158-page-long order. However, the tribunal retained the Rs 213 crore penalty on the company and the rest of the order. "We are setting aside the findings of the Commission insofar as it holds breach of Section 4 (2)(D) and setting aside the directions in paragraph 247.1, (which stated) WhatsApp will not share user data collected on its platform with other data companies or advertising purposes for a period of five years from the date of receipt of this order," said NCLAT bench while pronouncing its order orally in the open court. "In respect of such sharing of data for advertising purposes, the rest of the impugned order is upheld. The order dated 18 November 2024 is modified ..

CCI lacks power to examine disputes over patented products: NCLAT

Appellate tribunal NCLAT has said the fair trade regulator Competition Commission of India has no power to examine into the disputes related to patent matters. Dismissing an appeal against a CCI order, in which the regulator had closed a complaint against Swiss pharma major Vifor International (AG), a two-member NCLAT bench said the 'Patent Act will prevail over the Competition Act'. Citing the earlier judgments, NCLAT said: "Considering the judgment of the Delhi High Court in the case of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (PUBL) and the Supreme Court in the SLP No. 25026/2023, it is apparent that the CCI lacks the power to examine the allegations made against Vifor International (AG)." NCLAT, which is an appellate authority over the orders passed by CCI, said Vifor International had the patent for Ferric Carboxymaltose (FCM) injection, which is required for the treatment of Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA). "The Patent Act will prevail over the Competition Act in the facts of this case,

NCLAT rejects plea to stop Aakash EGM amid Byju's insolvency case

Tribunal says insolvency of Byju's cannot be used to restrict a solvent subsidiary's commercial independence as Aakash prepares for key rights issue

NCLAT asks IIHL to provide timeline to stop using Reliance trademark

Insolvency appellate tribunal NCLAT has asked Hinduja group firm IndusInd International Holdings Ltd (IIHL) to submit a timeframe by which it will discontinue using Reliance trademark for the financial service firm Reliance Capital. The counsel appearing for IIHL submitted before NCLAT that the process of name change after the acquisition of Reliance Capital has already started, and is likely to be completed in eight weeks. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) was hearing an appeal filed by Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Ventures Pvt Ltd (ADAVL), which has sought a stay over the use of the trademark Reliance after the takeover of Reliance Capital, through the insolvency resolution process. Noting IIHL's submission, a two-member National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) bench recorded in its order, "It is emphasised by Sr Counsel for the Respondent (IIHL) that the process of changing the brand name of the appellant with a new brand name, which is intended to be acquired b

NCLAT order on insolvency fraud may cloud IBC interpretation: Experts

Experts say NCLAT's order allowing recall of resolution plans if fraud is detected could weaken bidder confidence and blur clarity on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code

NCLAT sets aside Future Consumer's plea for insolvency against Aussee Oats

Appellate Tribunal NCLAT has set aside an appeal by Future Consumer Ltd (FCL) seeking to initiate insolvency against Aussee Oats Ltd. A two-member NCLAT bench has upheld the orders of the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), which had rejected the claims of FCL, part of the debt-ridden Future Group. FCL had claimed an amount of over Rs one crore due from Aussee Oats. It had given Rs two crore to Aussee Oats in the form of an Inter-Corporate Deposit. According to FCL, out of the total deposit, only Rs 1.35 crore has been paid, and the rest Rs 65 lakh is due, which now, along with interest, totals over Rs one crore. However, NCLT observed that the financial statement of the corporate debtor (Aussee Oats) reflected a 'set off' of the claims, and there was NIL amount payable to the Financial Creditor (FCL). Moreover, it also observed a dispute between them. This order was challenged by FCL before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), which also rej

Best of BS Opinion: GST 2.0 reforms miss underlying core principles

Today's pieces look at the available space for more rate cuts, the sorry state of tribunals, why GST reforms are not really that, and how India can harness its vast non-export MSME sector

Reforming tribunals: Rising vacancies at the top are hampering efficiency

According to legal think tank Daksh's State of Tribunals 2025 report, India's commercial tribunals face a backlog of 356,000 cases, worth ₹24.2 trillion (as of September)

NCLAT sets aside plea against Reliance Retail capital share reduction

In a relief to the Reliance Industries arm Reliance Retail, appellate tribunal NCLAT has set aside a petition against the leading retailer, which in 2023 reduced the equity share capital of the company, saying non-promoters were offered a "fair value" of their shares. Reliance Retail had in 2023 decided to reduce and cancel 78,65,423 equity shares of the company, held by the minority shareholders, other than the promoters/holding company. Observing that non-promoter shareholders were offered a "fair value" of their shares during the exercise and an overwhelming majority voted in favour of the resolution, the appellate tribunal upheld the earlier order passed by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and said it found "no reason to upset a reasoned order passed" by it. The NCLAT, while referring to previous judgements, said "selective reduction is permissible if objecting shareholders are paid a fair value of their shares". On July 4, 2023, the board of Reliance Retail Ltd (RRL),

NCLAT reserves verdict on Meta and Whatsapp pleas against CCI penalty

The appellate tribunal NCLAT has completed hearing and reserved its order on the appeals filed by Meta Platforms and WhatsApp, challenging the CCI's penalty on the social media major for the 2021 WhatsApp privacy policy update. An NCLAT bench, comprising Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan and Member (Technical) Arun Baroka, has directed the parties to file written submissions by October 6. "All the parties to file concise notes of submissions of not more than ten pages by October 6, 2025," said the bench on Thursday, while reserving its judgment. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) was hearing the petition by the tech giant Meta, which challenged a penalty of Rs 213.14 crore on the social media major for unfair business practices with respect to the WhatsApp privacy policy update done in 2021. Senior Counsel Arun Kathpalia and Amit Sibbal have completed their submissions in the rejoinder over arguments by the Senior Advocate Balbir Singh appearing for the Competition

Commercial tribunals' case backlog ties up 7.5% of India's GDP: Study

India's commercial tribunals face 3.56 lakh pending cases worth Rs 24.7 lakh crore, about 7.5% of GDP, with vacancies, procedural gaps and weak infrastructure slowing justice

NCLAT keeps order reserved in WhatsApp, Meta challenge to CCI penalty

The appellate tribunal has reserved its order on WhatsApp and Meta's plea against the Rs 213.14 crore fine imposed by CCI for alleged abuse of dominance over its 2021 privacy policy

Let consumer decide on data sharing with intermediaries: CCI to NCLAT

CCI argued before NCLAT that users must retain the right to share or withdraw data on platforms like WhatsApp as it defended its penalty on Meta for alleged abuse of dominance

No player close to WhatsApp in terms of revenue, assets: CCI to NCLAT

CCI argued before NCLAT that WhatsApp's dominance stems from its vast user base and unmatched revenues, defending its Rs 213.14 crore fine on Meta over the 2021 privacy policy

Retired judges reluctant to join tribunals due to poor facilities, says SC

The Supreme Court said retired judges hesitate to accept tribunal posts due to inadequate housing, transport and dignity, and asked the Centre to upgrade infrastructure

We are being punished for providing superior services, Meta tells NCLAT

Meta told NCLAT it was being punished by CCI for offering superior services and highlighted lapses in the watchdog's findings on WhatsApp's 2021 privacy policy case

NCLAT upholds order recalling insolvency case against Logix Infra

Appellate tribunal NCLAT has upheld the decision of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to recall a previous ruling for an insolvency case against real estate firm Logix Infrastructure after finding the debt claim as "fraudulent" and "malicious". A two-member NCLAT bench said the plea for CIRP (Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process) against Logix Infrastructure, which was developing the Blossom County project in Noida Sector 137, are based on collusion and are malicious with sufficient material. "In the facts and circumstances of the case, we do not find any infirmity in the orders of the adjudicating authority (NCLT) allowing the Section 65 application filed by the Respondents. For the reasons noted herein, we find that reversing of Section 7 proceedings doesn't amount to a review in the guise of a fresh determination," the bench said. Section 65 of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC) allows the NCLT to set aside the insolvency proceedings filed with a malicious intent .

CCI overstepped jurisdiction by ruling on privacy issues: WhatsApp to NCLAT

The appellate tribunal in March this year had deferred the hearing in the case, citing the upcoming Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules