Depositories Act, 1996

The Depositories Act, 1996

(22 of 1996)

Last Updated 20th January, 2020 [7/426]

[10th August, 1996]
An Act to provide for regulation of depositories in securities and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.
Be it enacted by Parliament in the Forty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:-

CHAPTER I

Preliminary

1. Short title, extent and commencement. – (1) This Act may be called The Depositories Act, 1996.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 20th day of September, 1995.

2. Definitions. – (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) “beneficial owner” means a person whose name is recorded as such with a depository;

(b) “Board” means the Securities and Exchange Board of India established under section 3 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992);

(c) “bye-laws” means bye-laws made by a depository under section 26;

(d) “Company Law Board” means the Board of Company Law Administration constituted under section 10-E of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);

(e) “depository” means a company formed and registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) and which has been granted a certificate of registration under sub-section (1-A) of section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992);

(f) “issuer” means any person making an issue of securities;

(g) “participant” means a person registered as such under sub-section (1-A) of section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992);

(h) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(i) “record” includes the records maintained in the form of books or stored in a computer or in such other form as may be determined by regulations;

(j) “registered owner” means a depository whose name is entered as such in the register of the issuer;

(k) “regulations” means regulations made by the Board;

[(ka) “Securities Appellate Tribunal” means a Securities Appellate Tribunal established under sub-section (1) of section 15-K of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992);]

(l) “security” means such security as may be specified by the Board;

(m) “service” means any service connected with recording of allotment of securities or transfer of ownership of securities in the record of a depository.

(2) Words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) or the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956) or the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in those Acts.

CHAPTER II

Certificate Of Commencement Of Business

3. Certificate of commencement of business by depositories. – (1) No depository shall act as a depository unless it obtains a certificate of commencement of business from the Board.
(2) A certificate granted under sub-section (1) shall be in such form as may be specified by the regulations.
(3) The Board shall not grant a certificate under sub-section (1) unless it is satisfied that the depository has adequate systems and safeguards to prevent manipulation of records and transactions:
Provided that no certificate shall be refused under this section unless the depository concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

CHAPTER III

Rights And Obligations Of Depositories, Participants, Issuers And Beneficial Owners

4. Agreement between depository and participant. – (1) A depository shall enter into an agreement with one or more participants as its agent.
(2) Every agreement under sub-section (1) shall be in such form as may be specified by the bye-laws.
5. Services of depository. – Any person, through a participant, may enter into an agreement, in such form as may be specified by the bye-laws, with any depository for availing its services.
6. Surrender of certificate of security. – (1) Any person who has entered into an agreement under section 5 shall surrender the certificate of security, for which he seeks to avail the services of a depository, to the issuer in such manner as may be specified by the regulations.
(2) The issuer, on receipt of certificate of security under sub-section (1), shall cancel the certificate of security and substitute in its records the name of the depository as a registered owner in respect of that security and inform the depository accordingly.
(3) A depository shall, on receipt of information under sub-section (2), enter the name of the person referred to in sub-section (1) in its records, as the beneficial owner.
7. Registration of transfer of securities with depository. – (1) Every depository shall, on receipt of intimation from a participant, register the transfer of security in the name of the transferee.
[(1A) Every depository on receipt of intimation from a participant register any transfer of security in favour of an asset reconstruction company as defined in clause (ba) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 along with or consequent upon transfer or assignment of financial asset of any bank or financial institution under sub-section (1) of section 5 of that Act.
(1B) Every depository, on receipt of intimation from a participant, register any issue of new shares in favour of any bank or financial institution or asset reconstruction company or any other assignee of such bank or financial institution or asset reconstruction company, as the case may be, by conversion of part of their debt into shares pursuant to reconstruction of debts of the company agreed between the company and the bank or financial institution or asset reconstruction company.
Explanation. – For the purpose of this section, the expressions “asset reconstruction company”, “bank”, and “financial institution” shall have the meanings assigned to them respectively under clauses (ba), (c) and (m) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002.]
(2) If a beneficial owner or a transferee of any security seeks to have custody of such security the depository shall inform the issuer accordingly.
8. Options to receive security certificate or hold securities with depository. – (1) Every person subscribing to securities offered by an issuer shall have the option either to receive the security certificates or hold securities with a depository.
(2) Where a person opts to hold a security with a depository, the issuer shall intimate such depository the details of allotment of the security, and on receipt of such information the depository shall enter in its records the name of the allottee as the beneficial owner of that security.
9. Securities in depositories to be in fungible form. – (1) All securities held by a depository shall be dematerialised and shall be in a fungible form.
[(2) Nothing contained in sections 153, 153-A, 153-B, 187-B, 187-C and 372 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) shall apply to a depository in respect of securities held by it on behalf of the beneficial owners.]
10. Rights of depositories and beneficial owner. – (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, a depository shall be deemed to be the registered owner for the purposes of effecting transfer of ownership of security on behalf of a beneficial owner.
(2) Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (1), the depository as a registered owner shall not have any voting rights or any other rights in respect of securities held by it.
(3) The beneficial owner shall be entitled to all the rights and benefits and be subjected to all the liabilities in respect of his securities held by a depository.
11. Register of beneficial owner. – Every depository shall maintain a register and an index of beneficial owners in the manner provided in section 150, section 151 and section 152 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).
12. Pledge or hypothecation of securities held in a depository. – (1) Subject to such regulations and bye-laws, as may be made in this behalf, a beneficial owner may with the previous approval of the depository create a pledge or hypothecation in respect of a security owned by him through a depository.
(2) Every beneficial owner shall give intimation of such pledge or hypothecation to the depository and such depository shall thereupon make entries in its records accordingly.
(3) Any entry in the records of a depository under sub-section (2) shall be evidence of a pledge or hypothecation.
13. Furnishing of information and records by depository and issuer. – (1) Every depository shall furnish to the issuer information about the transfer of securities in the name of beneficial owners at such intervals and in such manner as may be specified by the bye-laws.
(2) Every issuer shall make available to the depository copies of the relevant records in respect of securities held by such depository.
14. Option to opt out in respect of any security. – (1) If a beneficial owner seeks to opt out of a depository in respect of any security he shall inform the depository accordingly.
(2) The depository shall on receipt of intimation under sub-section (1) make appropriate entries in its records and shall inform the issuer.
(3) Every issuer shall, within thirty days of the receipt of intimation from the depository and on fulfilment of such conditions and on payment of such fees as may be specified by the regulations, issue the certificate of securities to the beneficial owner or the transferee, as the case may be.
15. Act 18 of 1891 to apply to depositories. – The Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1891 (18 of 1891) shall apply in relation to a depository as if it were a bank as defined in section 2 of that Act.
16. Depositories to indemnify loss in certain cases. – (1) Without prejudice to the provisions of any other law for the time being in force, any loss caused to the beneficial owner due to the negligence of the depository or the participant, the depository shall indemnify such beneficial owner.
(2) Where the loss due to the negligence of the participant under sub-section (1) is indemnified by the depository, the depository shall have the right to recover the same from such participant.
17. Rights and obligations of depositories, etc. – (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the rights and obligations of the depositories, participants and the issuers whose securities are dealt with by a depository shall be specified by the regulations.
(2) The eligibility criteria for admission of securities into the depository shall be specified by the regulations.

CHAPTER IV

Enquiry And Inspection

18. Power of Board to call for information and enquiry. – (1) The Board, on being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest or in the interest of investors so to do, may, by order in writing,-

(a) call upon any issuer, depository, participant or beneficial owner to furnish in writing such information relating to the securities held in a depository as it may require; or

(b) authorise any person to make an enquiry or inspection in relation to the affairs of the issuer, beneficial owner, depository or participant, who shall submit a report of such enquiry or inspection to it within such period as may be specified in the order.

(2) Every director, manager, partner, secretary, officer or employee of the depository or issuer or the participant or beneficial owner shall on demand produce before the person making the enquiry or inspection all information or such records and other documents in his custody having a bearing on the subject-matter of such enquiry or inspection.
19. Power of Board to give direction in certain cases. – (1) Save as provided in this Act, if after making or causing to be made an enquiry or inspection, the Board is satisfied that it is necessary-

(i) in the interest of investors, or orderly development of securities market; or

(ii) to prevent the affairs of any depository or participant being conducted in the manner detrimental to the interests of investors or securities market, it may issue such directions-

(a) to any depository or participant or any person associated with the securities market; or

(b) to any issuer, as may be appropriate in the interest of investors or the securities market.

[Explanation– For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that power to issue directions under this section shall include and always be deemed to have been included the power to direct any person, who made profit or averted loss by indulging in any transaction or activity in contravention of the provisions of this Act or regulations made thereunder, to disgorge an amount equivalent to the wrongful gain made or loss averted by such contravention.]

[(2) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (1) and section 19H, the Board may, by order, for reasons to be recorded in writing, levy penalty under sections 19A, 19B, 19C, 19D, 19E, 19F, 19FA and 19G after holding an inquiry in the prescribed manner.]

[19A. Penalty for failure to furnish information, return, etc. – Any person, who is required under this Act or any rules or regulations or bye-laws made thereunder,-

(a) to furnish any information, document, books, returns or report to the Board, fails to furnish the same within the time specified therefor [or who furnishes or files false, incorrect or incomplete information, return, report, books or other documents]

, he shall be liable to a penalty [which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees for each day during which such failure continues subject to a maximum of one crore rupees] for each such failure;

(b) to file any return or furnish any information, books or other documents within the time specified therefor in the regulations or the bye-laws, fails to file return or furnish the same within the time specified therefor, he [or who furnishes or files false, incorrect or incomplete information, return, report, books or other documents] shall be liable to a penalty of [which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees for each day during which such failure continues subject to a maximum of one crore rupees];

(c) to maintain books of account or records, fails to maintain the same, he shall be liable to a penalty of [which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees for each day during which such failure continues subject to a maximum of one crore rupees].

19B. Penalty for failure to enter into an agreement. – If a depository or participant or any issuer or its agent or any person, who is registered as an intermediary under the provisions of section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), and is required under this Act or any rules or regulations made thereunder, to enter into an agreement, fails to enter into such agreement, such depository or participant or issuer or its agent or intermediary shall be liable to a penalty [which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees for each day during which such failure continues subject to a maximum of one crore rupees] for every such failure.
19C. Penalty for failure to redress investors’ grievances. – If any depository or participant or any issuer or its agent or any person, who is registered as an intermediary under the provisions of section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), after having been called upon by the Board in writing, to redress the grievances of the investors, fails to redress such grievances within the time specified by the Board, such depository or participant or issuer or its agents or intermediary shall be liable to a penalty [which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees for each day during which such failure continues subject to a maximum of one crore rupees].
19D. Penalty for delay in dematerialisation or issue of certificate of securities. – If any issuer or its agent or any person, who is registered as an intermediary under the provisions of section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), fails to dematerialise or issue the certificate of securities on opting out of a depository by the investors, within the time specified under this Act or regulations or bye-laws made thereunder or abets in delaying the process of dematerialisation or issue the certificate of securities on opting out of a depository of securities, such issuer or its agent or intermediary shall be liable to a penalty [which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees for each day during which such failure continues subject to a maximum of one crore rupees].
19E. Penalty for failure to reconcile records. – If a depository or participant or any issuer or its agent or any person, who is registered as an intermediary under the provisions of section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), fails to reconcile the records of dematerialised securities with all the securities issued by the issuer as specified in the regulations, such depository or participant or issuer or its agent or intermediary shall be liable to a penalty [which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees for each day during which such failure continues subject to a maximum of one crore rupees].
19F. Penalty for failure to comply with directions issued by Board under section 19 of the Act. – If any person fails to comply with the directions issued by the Board under section 19, within the time specified by it, he shall be liable to a penalty [which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees for each day during which such failure continues subject to a maximum of one crore rupees].
[19FA. Penalty for failure to conduct business in a fair manner. – Where a depository fails to conduct its business with its participants or any issuer or its agent or any person associated with the securities markets in a fair manner in accordance with the rules, regulations made by the Board or directions issued by the Board under this Act, it shall be liable to penalty which shall not be less than five crore rupees but which may extend to twenty-five crore rupees or three times the amount of gains made out of such failure, whichever is higher.]
19G. Penalty for contravention where no separate penalty has been provided. – Whoever fails to comply with any provision of this Act, the rules or the regulations or bye-laws made or directions issued by the Board thereunder for which no separate penalty has been provided, shall be [liable to a penalty which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to one crore rupees].
19H. Power to adjudicate. – (1) For the purpose of adjudging under sections 19-A, 19-B, 19-C, 19-D, 19-E, [19F, 19FA and 19G, the Board may] appoint any officer not below the rank of a Division Chief of the Securities and Exchange Board of India to be an adjudicating officer for holding an inquiry in the prescribed manner after giving any person concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard for the purpose of imposing any penalty.
(2) While holding an inquiry, the adjudicating officer shall have power to summon and enforce the attendance of any person acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case to give evidence or to produce any document, which in the opinion of the adjudicating officer, may be useful for or relevant to the subject-matter of the inquiry and if, on such inquiry, he is satisfied that the person has failed to comply with the provisions of any of the sections specified in sub-section (1), he may impose such penalty as he thinks fit in accordance with the provisions of any of those sections.
[(3) The Board may call for and examine the record of any proceedings under this section and if it considers that the order passed by the adjudicating officer is erroneous to the extent it is not in the interests of the securities market, it may, after making or causing to be made such inquiry as it deems necessary, pass an order enhancing the quantum of penalty, if the circumstances of the case so justify:

Provided that no such order shall be passed unless the person concerned has been given an opportunity of being heard in the matter:

Provided further that nothing contained in this sub-section shall be applicable after an expiry of a period of three months from the date of the order passed by the adjudicating officer or disposal of the appeal under section 23A, whichever is earlier.]

19I. [Factors to be taken into account while adjudging quantum of penalty].-While adjudging the quantum of penalty under [section 19 or section 19H, the Board or the adjudicating officer] shall have due regard to the following factors, namely:-

(a) the amount of disproportionate gain or unfair advantage, wherever quantifiable, made as a result of the default;

(b) the amount of loss caused to an investor or group of investors as a result of the default;

(c) the repetitive nature of the default.

[19IA. Settlement of Administrative and Civil Proceedings. – (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, any person, against whom any proceedings have been initiated or may be initiated under section 19 or section 19H, as the case may be, may file an application in writing to the Board proposing for settlement of the proceedings initiated or to be initiated for the alleged defaults.

(2) The Board may, after taking into consideration the nature, gravity and impact of defaults, agree to the proposal for settlement, on payment of such sum by the defaulter or on such other terms as may be determined by the Board in accordance with the regulations made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992(15 of 1992).

(3) For the purpose of settlement under this section, the procedure as specified by the Board under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992) shall apply.

(4) No appeal shall lie under section 23A against any order passed by the Board or the adjudicating officer under this section.]

[(5) All settlement amounts, excluding the disgorgement amount and legal costs, realised under this Act shall be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India.]

[19-IB. (1) If a person fails to pay the penalty imposed [under this Act] or fails to comply with a direction of disgorgement order issued under section 19 or fails to pay any fees due to the Board, the Recovery Officer may draw up under his signature a statement in the specified form specifying the amount due from the person (such statement being hereafter in this Chapter referred to as certificate) and shall proceed to recover from such person the amount specified in the certificate by one or more of the following modes, namely: –

(a) attachment and sale of the person”s movable property;

(b) attachment of the person”s bank accounts;

(c) attachment and sale of the person”s immovable property;

(d) arrest of the person and his detention in prison;

(e) appointing a receiver for the management of the person’s movable and immovable properties,

and for this purpose, the provisions of sections 220 to 227, 228A, 229, 232, the Second and Third Schedules to the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961) and the Income-tax (Certificate Proceedings) Rules, 1962, as in force from time to time, in so far as may be, apply with necessary modifications as if the said provisions and the rules thereunder were the provisions of this Act and referred to the amount due under this Act instead of to income-tax under the Income-tax Act, 1961.

Explanation 1.- For the purposes of this sub-section, the person”s movable or immovable property or monies held in bank accounts shall include any property or monies held in bank accounts which has been transferred, irectly or indirectly on or after the date when the amount specified in certificate had become due, by the person to his spouse or minor child or son”s wife or son”s minor child, otherwise than for adequate consideration, and which is held by, or stands in the name of, any of the persons aforesaid; and so far as the movable or immovable property or monies held in bank accounts so transferred to his minor child or his son”s minor child is concerned, it shall, even after the date of attainment of majority by such minor child or son”s minor child, as the case may be, continue to be included in the person”s movable or immovable property or monies held in bank accounts for recovering any amount due from the person under this Act.

Explanation 2. – Any reference under the provisions of the Second and Third Schedules to the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961) and the Income-tax (Certificate Proceedings) Rules, 1962 to the assessee shall be construed as a reference to the person specified in the certificate.

Explanation 3. – Any reference to appeal in Chapter XVIID and the Second Schedule to the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), shall be construed as a reference to appeal before the Securities Appellate Tribunal under section 23A of this Act.

(2) The Recovery Officer shall be empowered to seek the assistance of the local district administration while exercising the powers under sub-section (1).

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the recovery of amounts by a Recovery Officer under sub-section (1), pursuant to non-compliance with any direction issued by the Board under section 19, shall have precedence over any other claim against such person.

(4) For the purposes of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3), the expression “Recovery Officer” means any officer of the Board who may be authorised, by general or special order in writing, to exercise the powers of a Recovery Officer.]

[19IC. Continuance of proceedings. – (1) Where a person dies, his legal representative shall be liable to pay any sum which the deceased would have been liable to pay if he had not died, in the like manner and to the same extent as the deceased:

Provided that, in case of any penalty payable under this Act, a legal representative shall be liable only in case the penalty has been imposed before the death of the deceased person.
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), –

(a) any proceeding for disgorgement, refund or an action for recovery before the Recovery Officer under this Act, except a proceeding for levy of penalty, initiated against the deceased before his death shall be deemed to have been initiated against the legal representative, and may be continued against the legal representative from the stage at which it stood on the date of the death of the deceased and all the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly;

(b) any proceeding for disgorgement, refund or an action for recovery before the Recovery Officer under this Act, except a proceeding for levy of penalty, which could have been initiated against the deceased if he had survived, may be initiated against the legal representative and all the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly.

(3) Every legal representative shall be personally liable for any sum payable by him in his capacity as legal representative if, while his liability for such sum remains undischarged, he creates a charge on or disposes of or parts with any assets of the estate of the deceased, which are in, or may come into, his possession, but such liability shall be limited to the value of the asset so charged, disposed of or parted with.
(4) The liability of a legal representative under this section shall be limited to the extent to which the estate of the deceased is capable of meeting the liability.
Explanation. – For the purposes of this section “legal representative” means a person who in law represents the estate of a deceased person, and includes any person who intermeddles with the estate of the deceased and where a party sues or is sued in a representative character, the person on whom the estate devolves on the death of the party so suing or sued.]
19J. Crediting sum realised by way of penalties to Consolidated Fund of India. – All sums realised by way of penalties under this Act shall be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India.]

CHAPTER V

[Miscellaneous]

[20. Offences. – (1) Without prejudice to any award of penalty by the adjudicating officer [or the Board] under this Act, if any person contravenes or attempts to contravene or abets the contravention of the provisions of this Act or of any rules or regulations or bye-laws made thereunder, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, or with fine, which may extend to twenty-five crore rupees, or with both.
(2) If any person fails to pay the penalty imposed by the [adjudicating officer or the Board or fails to comply with any] directions or orders, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one month but which may extend to ten years, or with fine, which may extend to twenty-five crore rupees, or with both.]
21. [Contravention by companies]. – (1) Where [a contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or any rule, regulation, direction or order made thereunder] has been committed by a company, every person who at the time the [contravention] was committed was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the [contravention] and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment provided in this Act, if he proves that the [contravention] was committed without his knowledge or that he has exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where [ a contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or any rule, regulation, direction or order made thereunder] has been committed by a company and it is proved that the [contravention] has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of the [contravention] and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Explanation .-For the purposes of this section,-

(a) “company” means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and

(b) “director”, in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.

[***]

[22. Cognizance of offences by Courts. – (1) No Court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act or any rules or regulations or bye-laws made thereunder, save on a complaint made by the Central Government or State Government or the Securities and Exchange Board of India or by any person.
2. [***]
22A. Composition of certain offences. – Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), any offence punishable under this Act, not being an offence punishable with imprisonment only, or with imprisonment and also with fine, may either before or after the institution of any proceeding, be compounded by a Securities Appellate Tribunal or a Court before which such proceedings are pending.
22B. Power to grant immunity. – (1) The Central Government may, on recommendation by the Board, if the Central Government is satisfied, that any person, who is alleged to have violated any of the provisions of this Act or the rules or the regulations made thereunder, has made a full and true disclosure in respect of alleged violation, grant to such person, subject to such conditions as it may think fit to impose, immunity from prosecution for any offence under this Act, or the rules or the regulations made thereunder or also from the imposition of any penalty under this Act with respect to the alleged violation:
Provided that no such immunity shall be granted by the Central Government in cases where the proceedings for the prosecution for any such offence have been instituted before the date of receipt of application for grant of such immunity:
Provided further that recommendation of the Board under this sub-section shall not be binding upon the Central Government.

(2) An immunity granted to a person under sub-section (1) may, at any time, be withdrawn by the Central Government, if it is satisfied that such person had, in the course of the proceedings, not complied with the condition on which the immunity was granted or had given false evidence, and thereupon such person may be tried for the offence with respect to which the immunity was granted or for any other offence of which he appears to have been guilty in connection with the contravention and shall also become liable to the imposition of any penalty under this Act to which such person would have been liable, had not such immunity been granted.]

[22C. (1) Establishment of Special Courts – The Central Government may, for the purpose of providing speedy trial of offences under this Act, by notification, establish or designate as many Special Courts as may be necessary.

(2) A Special Court shall consist of a single judge who shall be appointed by the Central Government with the concurrence of the Chief Justice of the High Court within whose jurisdiction the judge to be appointed is working.

(3) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a judge of a Special Court unless he is, immediately before such appointment, holding the office of a Sessions Judge or an Additional Sessions Judge, as the case may be.

22D. Offences triable by Special Courts – Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, all offences under this Act committed prior to the date of commencement of the Securities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2014 or on or after the date of such commencement, hall be taken cognizance of and tried by the Special Court established for the area in which the offence is committed or where there are more Special Courts than one for such area, by such one of them as may be specified in this behalf by the High Court concerned.

22E. Appeal and revision – The High Court may exercise, so far as may be applicable, all the powers conferred by Chapters XXIX and XXX of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 on a High Court, as if a Special Court within the local limits of the jurisdiction of the High Court were a Court of Session trying cases within the local limits of the jurisdiction of the High Court.

22F. (1) Application of Code to proceedings before Special Court – Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 shall apply to the proceedings before a Special Court and for the purposes of the said provisions, the Special Court shall be deemed to be a Court of Session and the person conducting prosecution before a Special Court shall be deemed to be a Public Prosecutor within the meaning of clause (u) of section 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

(2) The person conducting prosecution referred to in sub-section (1) should have been in practice as an advocate for not less than seven years or should have held a post, for a period of not less than seven years, under the Union or a State, requiring special knowledge of law.

22G. Transitional provisions – Any offence committed under this Act, which is triable by a Special Court shall, until a Special Court is established, be taken cognizance of and tried by a Court of Session exercising jurisdiction over the area, notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973:

Provided that nothing contained in this section shall affect the powers of the High Court under section 407 of the Code to transfer any case or class of cases taken cognizance by a Court of Session under this section.]

23. Appeals. – (1) Any person aggrieved by [an order of the Board made before the commencement of the Securities Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 1999] under this Act, or the regulations made thereunder may prefer an appeal to the Central Government within such time as may be prescribed.

(2) No appeal shall be admitted if it is preferred after the expiry of the period prescribed therefor:
Provided that an appeal may be admitted after the expiry of the period prescribed therefor if the appellant satisfies the Central Government that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within the prescribed period.
(3) Every appeal made under this section shall be made in such form and shall be accompanied by a copy of the order appealed against and by such fee as may be prescribed.
(4) The procedure for disposing of an appeal shall be such as may be prescribed:
Provided that before disposing of an appeal, the appellant shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
[23A. Appeal to Securities Appellate Tribunal. – (1) Save as provided in sub-section (2), any person aggrieved by an order of the Board made, on and after the commencement of the Securities Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 1999 (32 of 1999), under this Act, or the regulations made thereunder [or by an order made by an adjudicating officer under this Act],[may prefer an appeal to a Securities Appellate Tribunal having jurisdiction in the matter.
[***]
(3) Every appeal under sub-section (1) shall be filed within a period of forty-five days from the date on which a copy of the order made by the Board is received by the person referred to in sub-section (1) and it shall be in such form and be accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed:
Provided that the Securities Appellate Tribunal may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the said period of forty-five days if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not filing it within that period.
(4) On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), the Securities Appellate Tribunal may, after giving the parties to the appeal an opportunity of being heard, pass such orders thereon as it thinks fit, confirming, modifying or setting aside the order appealed against.
(5) The Securities Appellate Tribunal shall send a copy of every order made by it to the Board and parties to the appeal.
(6) The appeal filed before the Securities Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (1) shall be dealt with by it as expeditiously as possible and endeavour shall be made by it to dispose of the appeal finally within six months from the date of receipt of the appeal.
23B. Procedure and powers of Securities Appellate Tribunal. – (1) The Securities Appellate Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) but shall be guided by the principles of natural justice and, subject to the other provisions of this Act and of any rules, the Securities Appellate Tribunal shall have powers to regulate their own procedure including the places at which they have their sittings.
(2) The Securities Appellate Tribunal shall have, for the purpose of discharging their functions under this Act, the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:-

(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;

(b) requiring the discovery and production of documents;

(c) receiving evidence on affidavits;

(d) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents;

(e) reviewing its decisions;

(f) dismissing an application for default or deciding it ex parte ;

(g) setting aside any order of dismissal of any application for default or any order passed by it ex parte ; and

(h) any other matter which may be prescribed.

(2) Every proceeding before the Securities Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228, and for the purposes of section 196 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) and the Securities Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed to be a Civil Court for all the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
23C. Right to legal representation. – The appellate may either appear in person or authorise one or more chartered accountants or company secretaries or cost accountants or legal practitioners or any of its officers to present his or its case before the Securities Appellate Tribunal.
Explanation .-For the purposes of this section,-

(a) “chartered accountant” means a chartered accountant as defined in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 (38 of 1949) and who has obtained a certificate of practice under sub-section (1) of section 6 of that Act;

(b) “company secretary” means a company secretary as defined in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Companies Secretaries Act, 1980 (56 of 1980) and who has obtained a certificate of practice under sub-section (1) of section 6 of that Act;

(c) “cost accountant” means a cost accountant as defined in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 (23 of 1959) and who has obtained a certificate of practice under sub-section (1) of section 6 of that Act;

(d) “legal practitioner” means an advocate, vakil or an attorney of any High Court, and includes a pleader in practice.

23D. Limitation. – The provisions of the Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963) shall, as far as may be, apply to an appeal made to a Securities Appellate Tribunal.
23E. Civil Court not to have jurisdiction. – No Civil Court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in respect of any matter which a Securities Appellate Tribunal is empowered by or under this Act to determine and no injunction shall be granted by any Court or other authority in respect of any action taken or to be taken in pursuance of any power conferred by or under this Act.
[23F. Appeal to Supreme Court. – Any person aggrieved by any decision or order of the Securities Appellate Tribunal may file an appeal to the Supreme Court within sixty days from the date of communication of the decision or order of the Securities Appellate Tribunal to him on any question of law arising out of such order:
Provided that the Supreme Court may, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal within the said period, allow it to be filed within a further period not exceeding sixty days].]
[23G. Powers of Board not to apply to International Financial Services Centre. – Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the powers exercisable by the Board under this Act, –

(a) shall not extend to an International Financial Services Centre set up under sub-section (1) of section 18 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005;

(b) shall be exercisable by the International Financial Services Centres Authority established under sub-section (1) of section 4 of the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019,

in so far as regulation of financial products, financial services and financial institutions that are permitted in the International Financial Services Centres are concerned.]
24. Power of Central Government to make rules. – (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the provisions of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:-

[(a) the manner of inquiry under sub-section (1) of section 19-H;

(aa) the time within which an appeal may be preferred under sub-section (1) of section 23;]

(b) the form in which an appeal may be preferred, under sub-section (3) of section 23 and the fees payable in respect of such appeal;

(c) the procedure for disposing of an appeal under sub-section (4) of section 23.

[(d) the form in which an appeal may be filed before the Securities Appellate Tribunal under section 23-A and the fees payable in respect of such appeal.]

25. Power of Board to make regulations. – (1) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in section 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992), the Board may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make regulations consistent with the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such regulations may provide for-

(a) the form in which record is to be maintained under clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 2;

(b) the form in which the certificate of commencement of business shall be issued under sub-section (2) of section 3;

(c) the manner in which the certificate of security shall be surrendered under sub-section (1) of section 6;

(d) the manner of creating a pledge or hypothecation in respect of security owned by a beneficial owner under sub-section (1) of section 12;

(e) the conditions and the fee payable with respect to the issue of certificate of securities under sub-section (3) of section 14;

(f) the rights and obligations of the depositories, participants and the issuers under sub-section (1) of section 17;

(g) the eligibility criteria for admission of securities into the depository under sub-section (2) of section 17.

[(h) the terms determined by the Board for settlement of proceedings under subsection (2) of section 19-IA;

(i) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, specified by regulations or in respect of which provision to be made by regulations.]

26. Power of depositories to make bye-laws. – (1) A depository shall, with the previous approval of the Board, make bye-laws consistent with the provisions of this Act and the regulations.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such bye-laws shall provide for-

(a) the eligibility criteria for admission and removal of securities in the depository;

(b) the conditions subject to which the securities shall be dealt with;

(c) the eligibility criteria for admission of any person as a participant;

(d) the manner and procedure for dematerialisation of securities;

(e) the procedure for transactions within the depository;

(f) the manner in which securities shall be dealt with or withdrawn from a depository;

(g) the procedure for ensuring safeguards to protect the interests of participants and beneficial owners;

(h) the conditions of admission into and withdrawal from a participant by a beneficial owner;

(i) the procedure for conveying information to the participants and beneficial owners on dividend declaration, shareholder meetings and other matters of interest to the beneficial owners;

(j) the manner of distribution of dividends, interest and monetary benefits received from the company among beneficial owners;

(k) the manner of creating pledge or hypothecation in respect of securities held with a depository;

(l) inter se rights and obligations among the depository, issuer, participants and beneficial owners;

(m) the manner and the periodicity of furnishing information to the Board, issuer and other persons;

(n) the procedure for resolving disputes involving depository, issuer, company or a beneficial owner;

(o) the procedure for proceeding against the participant committing breach of the regulations and provisions for suspension and expulsion of participants from the depository and cancellation of agreements entered with the depository;

(p) the internal control standards including procedure for auditing, reviewing and monitoring.

(3) Where the Board considers it expedient so to do, it may, by order, in writing, direct a depository to make any bye-laws or to amend or revoke any bye-laws already made within such period as it may specify in this behalf.
(4) If the depository fails or neglects to comply with such order within the specified period, the Board may make the bye-laws or amend or revoke the bye-laws made either in the form specified in the order or with such modifications thereof as the Board thinks fit.
27. Rules and regulations to be laid before Parliament. – Every rule and every regulation made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the sessions immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or regulation or both Houses agree that the rule or regulation should not be made, the rule or regulation shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule or regulation.
28. Application of other laws not barred. – The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other law for the time being in force relating to the holding and transfer of securities.
29. Removal of difficulties. – (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty:
Provided that no order shall be made under this section after the expiry of a period of two years from the commencement of this Act.
(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament.
30. Amendments to certain enactments. – The enactments specified in the Schedule to this Act shall be amended in the manner provided therein.
[30A. Any act or thing done or purporting to have been done under the principal Act, in respect of settlement of administrative and civil proceedings, shall, for all purposes, be deemed to be valid and effective as if the amendments made to the principal Act had been in force at all material times.]

31. Repeal and saving. – (1) The Depositories (Third) Ordinance, 1996 (Ord. 28 of 1996) is hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the said Ordinance shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of this Act.

The Schedule

(See Section 30)

Amendments to Certain Enactments

Part I

Amendment to the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 (2 of 1899)

Amendment

After section 8, the following section shall be inserted, namely :-
“8-A. Securities not liable to stamp duty. – Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act,-

(a) an issuer, by the issue of securities to one or more depositories shall, in respect of such issue, be chargeable with duty on the total amount of security issued by it and such securities need not be stamped;

(b) where an issuer issues certificate of security under sub-section (3) of section 14 of the Depositories Act, 1996, on such certificate duty shall be payable as is payable on the issue of duplicate certificate under this Act;

(c) transfer of registered ownership of shares from a person to a depository or from a depository to a beneficial owner shall not be liable to any stamp duty;

(d) transfer of beneficial ownership of shares, such shares being shares of a company dealt with by a depository shall not be liable to duty under article 62 of Schedule I of this Act.

Explanation. – For the purposes of this section, the expressions “beneficial owner”, “depository” and “issuer”, shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in clauses (a), (e)’and (f) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Depositories Act, 1996.

Part II

Amendments To The Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)

Amendments

1. In section 2, after clause (45A), the following clause shall be inserted, namely :-

‘(45B) “Securities and Exchange Board of India” means the Securities and Exchange Board of India established under section 3 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992).’

2. Interpretation of certain words and expressions. – After section 2, the following section shall be inserted, namely:-

“2A. Words and expressions used and not defined in this Act but defined in the Depositories Act, 1996 shall have the same meanings respectively assigned to them in that Act.”

3. In section 41, after sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely :-

“(3) Every person holding equity share capital of company and whose name is entered as beneficial owner in the records of the depository shall be deemed to be a member of the concerned company.”

4. In section 49, in sub-section (5), after clause (b), the following clause shall be inserted, namely :-

“(c) from holding investments in the name of a depository when such investment are in the form of securities held by the company as a beneficial owner.”

5. In section 51, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely :-

“Provided that where the securities are held in a depository, the records of the beneficial ownership may be served by such depository on the company by means of electronic mode or by delivery of floppies or discs.”

6. Section 83 shall be omitted.
7. In section 108, after sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely :-

“(3) Nothing contained in this section shall apply to transfer of security effected by the transferor and the transferee both of whom are entered as beneficial owners in the records of a depository.”

8. In section 111, after sub-section (13), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely :-

“(14) In this section “company” means a private company and include a private company which had become a public company by virtue of section 43A of this Act.’

9. After section 111, the following section shall be inserted, namely:-
“111A. Rectification of register on transfer. – (1) In this section, unless the context otherwise requires, “company” means a company other than a company referred to in sub-section (14) of section 111 of this Act.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this section, the shares or debentures and any interest therein of a company shall be freely transferable.

(3) The Company Law Board may, on an application made by a depository, company, participant or investor or the Securities and Exchange Board of India within two months from the date of transfer of any shares or debentures held by a depository or from the date on which the instrument of transfer or the intimation of transmission was delivered to the company, as the case may be, after such enquiry as it thinks fit, direct any company or depository to rectify register or records if the transfer of the shares or debentures is in contravention of any of the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992. or regulations made thereunder or the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 (1 of 1986).

(4) The Company Law Board while acting under sub-section (3), may at its discretion make such interim order as to suspend the voting rights before making or completing such enquiry.

(5) The provisions of this section shall not restrict the right of a holder of shares or debentures, to transfer such shares or debentures and any person acquiring such shares or debentures shall be entitled to voting rights unless the voting rights have been suspended by an order of the Company Law Board.

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, any further transfer, during the pendency of the application with the Company Law Board, of shares or debentures shall entitle the transferee to voting rights unless the voting rights in respect of such transferee have also been suspended.

(7) The provisions of sub-sections (5), (7), (9), (10) and (12) of section 111 shall, so far as may be, apply to the proceedings before the Company Law Board under this section as they apply to the proceedings under that section.”

10. In section 113, after sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely :-

“(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where the securities are dealt with in a depository, the company shall intimate the details of allotment of securities to depository immediately on allotment of such securities.”

11. In section 150, in sub-section (1), in clause (b), the words “distinguishing each share by its number” shall be omitted.
12. In section 152, in sub-section (1), in clause (b), the words “distinguishing each debenture by its number” shall be omitted.
13. After section 152, the following section shall be inserted, namely :-
“152A. Register and index of beneficial owners. – The register and index of beneficial owners maintained by a depository under section 11 of the Depositories Act, 1996, shall be deemed to be an index of members and register and index of debenture holders, as the case may be, for the purposes of this Act.”
14. In Schedule II, in Part II, in clause C, after sub-clause (9), the following sub-clause shall be inserted, namely :-

“9A. The details of opinion to subscribe for securities to be dealt with in a depository.”

Part III

Amendments To The Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956

(42 OF 1956)

Amendments

1. In section 2, for clause (i), the following clause shall be substituted, namely :-

‘(i) “spot delivery contract” means a contract which provides for-

(a) actual delivery of securities and the payment of a price therefor either on the same day as the date of the contract or on the next day, the actual periods taken for the dispatch of the securities or the remittance of money therefor through the post being excluded from the computation of the period aforesaid if the parties to the contract do not reside in the same town or locality;

(b) transfer of the securities by the depository from the account of a beneficial owner to the account of another beneficial owner when such securities are dealt with by a depository;’.

3. Section 22A shall be omitted.

Part IV

Amendment to the Income-Tax Act, 1961

(43 OF 1961)

Amendment

In section 45, after sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely :-

‘(2A) Where any person has had at any time during previous year any beneficial interest in any securities, then, any profits or gains arising from transfer made by the depository or participant of such beneficial interest in respect of securities shall be chargeable to income-tax as the income of the beneficial owner of the previous year in which such transfer took place and shall not be regarded as income of the depository who is deemed to be the registered owner of securities by virtue of sub-section (1) of section 10 of the Depositories Act, 1996, and for the purposes of-

(i) section 48; and

(ii) proviso to clause (42A) of section 2,

the cost of acquisition and the period of holding of any securities shall be determined on the basis of the first-infirst-out method.
Explanation. -For the purposes of this subsection, the expressions “beneficial owner”, “depository” and “security” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in clauses (a), (e) and (l) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Depositories Act, 1996.’

Part V

Amendment To The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988

(45 OF 1988)

Amendment

In section 3, for sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely :-

(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to-

(a) the purchase of property by any person in the name of his wife or unmarried daughter and it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that the said property had been purchased for the benefit of the wife or the unmarried daughter;

(b) the securities held by a-

(i) depository as a registered owner under sub-section (1) of section 10 of the Depositories Act, 1996;

(ii) participant as an agent of a depository.

Explanation. -The expressions “depository” and “participant” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in clauses (e) and (g) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Depositories Act, 1996.’

Part VI

Amendments to the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992

(15 OF 1992)

Amendments

1. In section 2, in sub-section (2), for the words, brackets and figures “the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956”, the words, brackets and figures “the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956) or the Depositories Act, 1996” shall be substituted.
2. In section 11, in sub-section (2), in clause (ba), for the words “depositories, custodians”, the words “depositories, participants, custodians” shall be substituted.
3. In section 12, in sub-section (1A), for the words “depository, custodian”, at both the places where they occur, the words “depository, participant, custodian” shall be substituted.
4. In section 16, in sub-section (1), for the words “this Act”, the words and figures “this Act or the Depositories Act, 1996” shall be substituted.