NCLAT (National Company Law Appellate Tribunal) is the appellate body constituted to hear appeals against orders of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and other designated authorities under Indian corporate and insolvency law. Under Indian law, it is established under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013, and has been operational since 1 June 2016.
Legal definition
Section 410(1) of the Companies Act, 2013 provides:
The Central Government shall, by notification, constitute, with effect from such date as may be specified therein, an Appellate Tribunal to be known as the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal consisting of a chairperson and such number of Judicial and Technical Members, not exceeding eleven, as the Central Government may deem fit, to exercise the powers and discharge the functions conferred on it by or under this Act or any other law for the time being in force.
The NCLAT operates from its Principal Bench in New Delhi and an additional bench in Chennai. Its appellate jurisdiction extends across four statutory regimes:
- Companies Act, 2013 — Appeals against NCLT orders under Section 421.
- Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 — Appeals against NCLT orders under Section 61 and orders of IBBI under Sections 202 and 211.
- Competition Act, 2002 — Appeals against orders of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) under Section 53A.
- Companies Act, 2013 — Appeals against orders of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA).
How courts have interpreted this term
Committee of Creditors of Essar Steel India Ltd. v. Satish Kumar Gupta (2020) 8 SCC 531
The Supreme Court reversed the NCLAT's order that had modified the distribution of funds under the resolution plan approved by the Committee of Creditors. The Court held that the NCLAT exceeded its jurisdiction by substituting its own view for the commercial wisdom of the CoC. The decision established clear boundaries for NCLAT's appellate jurisdiction under the IBC — the NCLAT may examine whether the NCLT's order complies with the statutory provisions but cannot interfere with the commercial decisions of the CoC.
K. Sashidhar v. Indian Overseas Bank (2019) 12 SCC 150
The Supreme Court held that neither the NCLT nor the NCLAT can substitute its judgment for the commercial wisdom of the Committee of Creditors in rejecting a resolution plan. The Court clarified that the NCLAT's review is limited to ensuring compliance with the procedural requirements of the IBC and cannot extend to the merits of the commercial decision.
Why this matters
The NCLAT occupies a critical position in India's corporate dispute resolution hierarchy, functioning as the intermediate appellate forum between the NCLT and the Supreme Court. Its significance has grown substantially since the enactment of the IBC, 2016, as it hears appeals in insolvency matters where billions of rupees are at stake and time-bound resolution is essential.
For practitioners, the scope of the NCLAT's review jurisdiction varies by statute. Under the IBC, the NCLAT's review is constrained by the principle of commercial wisdom — it cannot second-guess the business decisions of the Committee of Creditors. Under the Companies Act, the NCLAT exercises broader appellate powers over NCLT decisions on oppression and mismanagement, schemes of arrangement, and winding up. Under the Competition Act, the NCLAT hears challenges to CCI orders on anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position.
A critical practical consideration is the NCLAT's authority to grant interim relief. The NCLAT has the power to stay the operation of orders passed by the NCLT and the CCI pending the hearing and disposal of the appeal, which can have significant commercial implications for insolvency resolution timelines and merger approvals.
Related terms
Lower forum:
Key IBC concepts:
Frequently asked questions
What is the time limit for filing an appeal before NCLAT?
Under Section 421 of the Companies Act, 2013, an appeal must be filed within 45 days from the date of the NCLT order. Under Section 61 of the IBC, 2016, the appeal period is 30 days from the date of the order, extendable by a further 15 days if the NCLAT is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for the delay.
Can NCLAT orders be appealed further?
Yes. Appeals against NCLAT orders lie to the Supreme Court of India. Under Section 423 of the Companies Act, 2013, any person aggrieved by an order of the NCLAT may file an appeal to the Supreme Court on a question of law. Under Section 62 of the IBC, an appeal lies to the Supreme Court on a question of law arising from an NCLAT order.
Does NCLAT have jurisdiction over Competition Commission orders?
Yes. Under Section 53A of the Competition Act, 2002 (as amended by the Finance Act, 2017), the NCLAT replaced the erstwhile Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) as the appellate body for orders of the Competition Commission of India. Appeals against CCI orders on anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position, and combination approvals lie before the NCLAT.
Where are NCLAT benches located?
The NCLAT has its Principal Bench in New Delhi and an additional bench in Chennai. The Chennai bench handles appeals from NCLT benches in the southern region.
This entry is part of the Veritect Indian Legal Glossary, a comprehensive reference of Indian legal terminology grounded in statutory text and judicial interpretation.
Last updated: 2026-03-27. Veritect provides this content for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.