The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), Chennai, witnessed a rare instance of judicial recusal in the case concerning Mr. Attluru Sreenivasulu Reddy, suspended director of M/s KLSR Infratech Ltd., versus M/s AS Met Corp Pvt. Ltd. & Anr. The recusal was prompted after it was revealed that one of the Members (Judicial) was approached by a senior member of the higher judiciary seeking an order in favour of a particular party. The bench referred the matter to the Hon’ble Chairperson for nomination of an appropriate bench.
The appeal arises from a dispute involving the suspended director of KLSR Infratech Ltd. against M/s AS Met Corp Pvt. Ltd. & another party. Multiple interim applications were filed in connection with the appeal. The matter was listed before the NCLAT in Chennai for consideration.
The Judicial Member explicitly stated, “We are anguished to observe, that one of us, Member (Judicial), has been approached by one of the most revered members of the higher judiciary of this country for seeking an order in favour of a particular party. Hence, I recuse to hear the matter". The Technical Member supported the recusal and the matter was placed before the Chairperson for the nomination of a fresh bench to hear the appeal.
The Member (Judicial) recused from hearing the matter, and the NCLAT directed the case to be placed before the Hon’ble Chairperson for the constitution of an appropriate bench to continue proceedings.
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