Centre Appoints Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Ashok Bhushan As Chairperson Of NCLAT

The Central Government has appointed Justice (Retd.) Ashok Bhushan, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India as Chairperson, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) for a period of 04 years.

Justice Ashok Bhushan had retired as the Judge of the Supreme Court in July this year.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal for appointment of Justice (Retd.) Ashok Bhushan, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India as Chairperson, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) for a period of 04 years from the date of assumption of charge of the post, or till he attains the age of 70 years, or until further orders, whichever is the earliest. 2. Necessary communication in this regard has been sent to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

The NCLAT has been functioning with officiating chairperson since former chairperson Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya retired in March 2020.

Justice Bansi Lal Bhat and Justice AIS Cheema served as officiating chairperson after that. After Justice Cheema's retirement, Justice M Venugopal, a former Madras High Court judge, has been serving as officiating chairperson.

Significantly, in September 2021, the Supreme Court had taken objection to how the Central government was dealing  appointments to tribunals.

While hearing the issue of vacancies in tribunals, CJI N . V . Ramana had raised the issue of the premature retirement of Justice A. I. S. Cheema as NCLAT.

"The department has hurriedly on 11th of September made arrangements and he has been replaced by another gentleman, Justice M. Venugopal. I don't know how this is happening, what is this happening? I am not sure whether you have notice of this or not...", CJI Ramana had observed. Following the critical remarks of the Supreme Court, the Centre agreed to allow Justice Cheema to continue as officiating Chairperson till the completion of his term on September 20.

About Justice Ashok Bhushan

It was on May 13, 2016 that Justice Ashok Bhushan was elevated to the Supreme Court. Before that, he was the Chief Justice of the High Court of Kerala from August 2014.