Parliament Question: Functioning and Performances of Commercial Tribunals

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 293 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 07th AUGUST, 2026 FUNCTIONING AND PERFORMANCES OF COMMERCIAL TRIBUNALS *293. SHRI MANISH TEWARI: Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken note of the findings regarding the challenges in the functioning of India’s commercial tribunals, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether it is a fact that a significant number of cases remain pending before commercial tribunals, affecting economic activity and ease of doing business, if so, the details thereof; (c) the details of vacancies, case pendency and disposal rates in major tribunals such as the National Company Law Tribunal, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, the Debt Recovery Tribunal and the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal during the last three years; (d) whether the Government has identified issues such as chronic vacancies, procedural inconsistencies, lack of transparency and jurisdictional overlaps affecting tribunal efficiency, if so, the details thereof; (e) whether the Government proposes to establish institutional mechanisms such as a National Tribunals Commission or adopt technology-driven reforms to improve efficiency and accountability; and (f) the steps taken or proposed to be taken to ensure timely disposal of commercial disputes and strengthen investor confidence in the country’s dispute resolution framework? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL) (a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. ***** 1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (F) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 293 FOR ANSWER ON 07.08.2026, REGARDING FUNCTIONING AND PERFORMANCES OF COMMERCIAL TRIBUNALS. (a): The Supreme Court in various judgments including the judgment dated 19.11.2025 in the matter of Madras Bar Association vs. UOI, W.P.(C) No.1018 of 2021 has given its findings regarding the working of the Tribunals under the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021 and Rules framed thereon. (b) to (d): The Government is making all efforts to fill the vacancies in the various Tribunals besides augmenting their infrastructural requirements and human resources. The details of vacancies in National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) and the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) during the last three years including the current year is given at Annexure-I. The details of case pendency and its disposal rates is given at Annexure-II. (e) & (f): Various steps including legislative measures and framing of standard operating procedures have been and are undertaken for efficient functioning of the Tribunals and for timely disposal of cases. This includes strengthening digital infrastructure, adoption of e- Office, Court Room hearing by way of Video Conferencing, digitization of records, online case management systems, and continuous monitoring of administrative efficiency for early disposal of cases. **** 2Annexure-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN PART (B) TO (D) IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 293 FOR ANSWER ON 07.08.2026, REGARDING FUNCTIONING AND PERFORMANCES OF COMMERCIAL TRIBUNALS. Name of the Tribunal Name of Post(s)/staff Sanctioned Filled Vacant Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) 2024-25 Chairperson/Members 126 80 46 Registry 987 578 409 2025-26 Chairperson/Members 126 110 16 Registry 987 565 422 2026-27 Chairperson/Members 126 112 14 Registry 969 687 282 National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) 2023-24 Chairperson/Members 12 11 1 Registry 51 10 41 2024-25 Chairperson/Members 12 10 2 Registry 51 21 30 2025-26 Chairperson/Members 12 11 1 (upto 30.06.2026) Registry 111 26 85 National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Chairperson/Members 63 51 12 As on 03.08.2026 Registry 320 67 253 Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) Currently, Seven (7) Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) are vacant out of Thirty-Nine (39) DRTs. However, Presiding Officers of others DRTs have been assigned the additional charge for the above DRTs, in addition to their regular charge, for smooth functioning of these DRTs. **** 3Annexure-II ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN PART (B) TO (D) IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 293 FOR ANSWER ON 07.08.2026, REGARDING FUNCTIONING AND PERFORMANCES OF COMMERCIAL TRIBUNALS. Name of the Years Pendency Cases Disposal Disposal Pendency Tribunal Instituted Rates (Avg.) (Brought % forward) Income Tax 2024-25 38759 51164 46370 51.57 43553 Appellate Tribunal (ITAT 2025-26 43553 72249 55794 48.18 60008 2026-27 (upto 60008 24664 16654 19.67 68018 30.06.2026) National 2023-24 21664 7947 9818 33.16 19793 Company Law Tribunal 2024-25 19946 9065 14150 48.61 14961 (NCLT) 2025-26 15045 8419 8651 36.87 14813 National 2023-24 2192 2841 2319 46.07 2714 Company Law Appellate 2024-25 2714 3379 2575 42.26 3518 Tribunal 2025-26 3518 3339 2779 40.52 4078 THE PENDENCY AND DISPOSAL RATES DETAILS IN DRTS Debt Recovery Tribunal (Original Application (OA) & Securitisation Application (SA)) Financial Year Cases Disposed Cases Pending Average Disposal per year per DRT 2023-24 52541 218060 1347.21 2024-25 45378 233901 1163.54 2025-26 52902 252771 1356.46 2026-27 12739 259814 -- (Upto 30.06.2026) **** 4