CHENNAI: Fulfilling a long-pending demand of legal fraternity of southern states, the Central government notified formation of a regional bench of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal ( NCLAT ) at Chennai. The newly constituted appellate tribunal will have jurisdiction over Tamil Nadu , Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry.The March 13, which will come into force from March 18, said the bench of NCLAT at New Delhi would be the principal bench of the appellate tribunal.Welcoming the development, DMK’s Rajya Sabha member and designated senior advocate P Wilson said: “As an MP, I have been requesting to decongest New Delhi and de-cluster tribunals, as New Delhi alone houses more than 43 tribunals. Only a few tribunals have notified its benches in other states even though the respective Act through which they are constituted permits such regional benches.”“Central government should constitute benches of tribunals where the legislation permits so that there is no need to travel to New Delhi. Such benches will serve the litigants and the lawyers and cut down the cost of litigation. Access to justice is one of fundamental rights. Our struggle to bring regional benches of Supreme Court and one at Chennai is our predominant aim,” Wilson added.“I welcome this move, as hundreds of appeals from company law tribunals from the five states are going to Delhi where the only National Company Law Appellate Tribunal is available. Establishing a regional bench in Chennai would help reduce the time consumed in approaching Delhi and the cost involved would also come down,” senior advocate P S Raman said.Adding that the notification is special to him since the regional bench would be constituted in Chennai, Raman said: “I hope that the Centre and the state government would get a good place for establishing the appellate tribunal with adequate infrastructure and staff. They must also make sure that the NCLAT starts functioning as soon as possible.”Senior advocate A R L Sundaresan said: “Finally the long-pending demand of the Bar has been accepted. The regional bench in Chennai would reduce the time and cost consumed to move such appeals for both the litigants and the lawyers. Justice has been made accessible. It would be a boon to the companies registered in the states.”