NCLAT Judge Sharad Kumar Sharma Recuses Himself From Byju’s Insolvency Appeal

Justice Sharad Kumar Sharma, a judicial member of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), recused himself from hearing an appeal filed by Riju Ravindran.

The appeal concerned the non-pronouncement of an order in the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) plea to withdraw its insolvency petition against Byju’s. In order to form a new bench, Sharma sent the case to NCLAT chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan, citing a conflict of interest stemming from his previous representation of the BCCI. The case follows the National Company Law Tribunal’s (NCLT) January 08 order, which reserved judgement on multiple petitions, including BCCI’s, but only pronounced its decision on Glas Trust and Aditya Birla Finance’s inclusion in Byju’s Committee of Creditors. On Wednesday, senior advocate Arun Kathpalia, representing Ravindran, urged the bench to consider the urgency of the matter.

This is the second time Sharma has recused himself from a Byju’s-related case, having done so in July last year for the same reason.