Center To Permit Justice Ashok Cheema To Continue As Chairperson Of NCLAT Till Superannuation On September 20

The Central Government has informed the Supreme Court that it will permit Justice Ashok Cheema to continue in office as the Chairperson of NCLAT till September 20, to enable him to pronounce verdicts in cases heard by him.

The Center had appointed Justice M. Venugopal as the acting Chairperson with effect from September 11, when Justice Cheema was to retire on September 20. Justice Cheema had approached the Supreme Court challenging the appointment of Justice Venugopal.

"I have taken instructions. It was said he (Justice Cheema) took leave to write judgments. So we have decided that he will be allowed to go to office and pronounce judgments, the current chairperson Justice Venugopal will be sent on leave", Attorney General K K Venugopal told the Bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli.

The submission of the Attorney General was accepted by the Bench and the government is to pass consequential orders. The Bench noted in its order that the current Chairperson will be on leave till September 20 and that the order is passed keeping in mind the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case.

With PTI Inputs