The Induction Colloquium was held from 26 November 2022 to 02 December 2022 with the objective of familiarizing and initiating fifteen newly appointed Hon’ble Members into the adjudicatory framework of the Companies Act, 2013 and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. The programme was conceived as an in-house capacity-building initiative and was successfully organized and accomplished to provide structured institutional orientation to the newly appointed members. Despite being organized within a short span of time, the colloquium was meticulously planned and executed as an in-house initiative ably conceived under the leadership of the Hon’ble President, NCLT.

The inaugural session featured addresses by eminent speakers, including Hon’ble Justice (Retd.) Rajiv Sahai End law, Former Judge, High Court of Delhi; Shri Manoj Govil, Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs; Shri Ravi Mittal, Chairman, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India; and Shri Praveen Kumar, Director General, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs.

The event was executed with exceptional clarity and coordination, embodying the vision, guidance, and institutional leadership of the Hon’ble President, NCLT, Chief Justice (Retd.) Ramalingam Sudhakar. At his request, twenty-one distinguished legal luminaries delivered thematic sessions during the colloquium. Drawing upon their vast professional experience, the speakers encapsulated decades of judicial, regulatory, and practical knowledge into concise and focused sessions for the benefit of the newly inducted Members. Legal Research Assistants also participated in the programme and benefitted significantly from the deliberations.

The induction colloquium facilitated meaningful exchange of ideas. Several speakers were experienced members of the NCLT fraternity, having served as Judicial and Technical Members, which added practical depth and institutional insight to the discussions.

Despite its cost-effective nature, the programme delivered substantial value in terms of knowledge dissemination, institutional orientation, and capacity building for the newly appointed Members. The successful conduct of the programme was made possible through the active support and coordinated efforts of NCLT Officers, Registry and Administrative Staff, and Legal Research Assistants, whose dedication ensured its smooth execution.

The Induction Colloquium not only served as a meaningful orientation programme for the newly appointed Members but also established a replicable and sustainable template for future induction and capacity-building initiatives of the Tribunal.

The event commenced with a welcome address by Shri L. N. Gupta, Hon’ble Member (Technical), NCLT, New Delhi. In his remarks, he acknowledged and appreciated the contributions of both erstwhile and serving Members of the Tribunal towards the growth and success of the NCLT. He noted that, despite being a relatively young institution of just seven years, the NCLT has earned recognition for its commendable performance across both corporate and non-corporate sectors. He observed that the Tribunal has built considerable institutional goodwill and has made a meaningful contribution towards improving the ease of doing business in the country.

In his address, the Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, elaborated on the Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen judicial infrastructure and modernize court processes through upgradation of existing facilities and comprehensive reforms to the e-filing portals. He emphasized that the scale and complexity of commercial disputes have a direct bearing on the national economy. Referring to the average resolution timeline of 600–700 days, he underscored the need to address delays so that the statutory timelines prescribed under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code are adhered to. He observed that while the current recovery rate of around 30 percent is noteworthy, an incremental improvement of even 10 percent could result in substantial additional recoveries for the economy. He encouraged the Tribunal to adopt proactive measures to expedite proceedings and improve recovery outcomes.

Addressing the Colloquium, Hon’ble President, NCLT, Chief Justice (Retd.) Ramalingam Sudhakar, began his speech with a quote by the eminent scientist Charles Darwin:

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”

Hon’ble President congratulated the newly appointed Members and reflected on the effective functioning of the NCLT despite challenges relating to limited infrastructure, shortage of Members, and lack of permanent manpower. He noted that the newly inducted Members come from distinguished and responsible services of the Government of India, each with established institutional practices and working styles. Emphasizing the relevance of adaptability, he observed that Members would need to realign their approaches to meet the unique adjudicatory mandate entrusted to the NCLT. He highlighted that this transition would require a shift in mindset to respond effectively to the expectations placed upon the Tribunal.

Towards the conclusion of the inaugural session, Shri Binod Kumar Sinha, Hon’ble Member (Technical), NCLT, New Delhi, proposed the vote of thanks. He expressed gratitude to the Hon’ble President, Members, dignitaries, speakers, participants, and the officers, staff, and Legal Research Assistants of the NCLT for their collective efforts in ensuring the successful conduct of the Colloquium.

The Colloquium brought together some of the brightest minds in the field, who shared their insights and expertise across a wide range of themes, enriching the deliberations and setting a strong tone for the sessions that followed.

The technical sessions of the Induction Colloquium were conducted over a period of five days, from 28.11.2022 to 02.12.2022. A wide range of issues were deliberated during these sessions, wherein domain experts shared their insights and practical experiences with the newly inducted Hon’ble Members. The technical sessions proved to be highly beneficial, equipping the Hon’ble Members with a deeper understanding of procedural and substantive aspects, and laying a strong foundation for their effective and successful functioning at the National Company Law Tribunal.