The service standards set by the Company for various investor related transactions / activities are as follows :
1.1 What are the types of accounts for dealing in securities in demat form?
Beneficial Owner Account (B.O. Account) / Demat Account: An account opened with a Depository Participant (DP) in the name of investor for holding and transferring securities.
Trading Account:An account opened by the broker in the name of the investor for buying and selling of securities.
Bank Account:A bank account opened in the name of the investor for debiting or crediting money with respect to transactions in the securities market.
1.2 What is Delivery Instruction Slip (DIS) and what precautions one should observe with respect to DIS?
To give delivery of the securities, the beneficial owner has to fill in a form called Delivery Instruction Slip (DIS). DIS may be compared to cheque book of a bank account. The following precautions are to be taken in respect of DIS:
| Sl.No. | Particulars | Service Standards (No. of working days) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (A)Registration Items | ||||||
| 1 | Transfers | 3 | ||||
| 2 | Transmission | 3 | ||||
| 3 | Transposition | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Deletion of Name | 3 | ||||
| 5 | Folio Consolidation | 3 | ||||
| 6 | Change of Name | 3 | ||||
| 7 | Demat | 3 | ||||
| 8 | Remat | 3 | ||||
| 9 | Issue of Duplicate Certificate | 15 | ||||
| 10 | Replacement of Certificate | 3 | ||||
| 11 | Certificate Consolidation | 3 | ||||
| 12 | Certificate Split | 3 | ||||
| 13 | Change of Address | 2 | ||||
| 14 | Bank Mandate / Details | 2 | ||||
| 15 | Nomination by security holders | 2 | ||||
| 16 | Power of Attorney by security holders | 2 | ||||
| (B) Correspondence | ||||||
| 1 | Non-receipt of Annual Reports | 2 | ||||
| 2 | Non-receipt of Dividend Warrants | 3 | ||||
| 3 | Non-receipt of Interest/ Redemption Warrants | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Non-receipt of Certificate | 2 | ||||
| 5 | Revalidation of Dividend Warrants | 3 | ||||
| 6 | Revalidation of Redemption Warrants | 3 | ||||
| 7 | Multiple Queries | 4 | ||||
| 8 | IEPF Letters | 3 | ||||
1.3 What is online trading in securities?
Online trading in securities refers to the facility available to an investor for placing his own orders using the internet trading platform offered by the trading member viz., the broker. The orders so placed by the investor using internet would be routed through the trading member.
1.4 What is SARAL Account Opening Form?
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) vide its circular dated March 04, 2015, has introduced SARAL Account Opening Form for resident individuals.
Individual investors can open a trading account and demat account by filling up a simplified Account Opening Form ('AOF') termed as 'SARAL AOF'. This form will be separately available with the intermediaries and can also be downloaded from the Exchanges' and Depositories' website. The investors who open such account through SARAL AOF will also have the option to obtain other facilities, whenever they require, on furnishing of additional information as per prescribed regulations/circulars.
1.5 What precautions an online investor must take?
Investor trading online must take the following precautions:
1.6 What are the other safety measures an online client must observe?
1.7 What are the do's and don'ts while dealing in securities market?
DO'S
DON'TS
Deal with Registered Intermediaries
Investors should transact through a registered intermediary who is subject to regulatory discipline of SEBI, as it will be responsible for its activities, and in case the intermediary does not act professionally, investors may take up the matter with SEBI/Stock Exchanges.
Obtain documents relating to purchase and sale of securities
A valid Contract Note/Confirmation Memo should be obtained from the broker/sub-broker, within 24 hours of execution of purchase or sale of securities and it should be ensured that the Contract Note/Confirmation Memo contains order number, order time, trade number, trade time, security descriptions, bought and/or sold quantity, price, brokerage, service tax and securities transaction tax. In case the investors have any doubt about the details contained in the contract note, they can avail the facility provided by BSE / NSE to verify the trades on BSE / NSE websites. It is recommended that this facility be availed in respect of a few trades on random basis, even if there is no doubt as to the authenticity of the trade/transaction.
Transfer securities before Book Closure/Record Date
The corporate benefits on the securities lying in the clearing account of the brokers cannot be made available to the members directly by the Company. In case an investor has bought any securities, he must ensure that the securities are transferred to his demat account before the book closure / record date.
2.1 What are the modes by which the dividend is paid?
Dividend is paid under four modes viz:
2.2 What is payment of dividend through NECS Facility and how does it operate?
NECS facility is a centralised version of ECS facility. The NECS system takes advantage of the centralised accounting system in banks. Accordingly, the account of a bank that is submitting or receiving payment instructions is debited or credited centrally at Mumbai. The branches participating in NECS can, however, be located anywhere across the length and breadth of the country.
2.3 What are the benefits of NECS (payment through electronic facilities)?
Some of the major benefits are :
2.4 How to avail of NECS Facility?
Investors holding shares in physical form may send their NECS Mandate Form, duly filled in, to the Company's R&TA. The Form may be downloaded from the Company's website www.ril.com under the section "Investor Relations".
However, if shares are held in dematerialised form, NECS mandate has to be sent to the concerned DP directly, in the format prescribed by the DP.
Investors must note that NECS essentially operates on the new and unique bank account number, allotted by banks post implementation of Core Banking Solutions (CBS) for centralized processing of inward instructions and efficiency in handling bulk transactions.
In this regard, shareholders are requested to furnish the new bank account number allotted by the banks post implementation of CBS, along with a copy of cheque pertaining to the concerned account:
2.5 Can investors opt out of NECS Facility?
Investors have a right to opt out from this mode of payment by giving an advance notice of four weeks, prior to payment of dividend, either to the Company's R&TA or to the concerned DP, as the case may be.
2.6 What is payment of dividend through NEFT Facility and how does it operate?
NEFT is a nation-wide payment system facilitating electronic transfer of funds from one account to another. Dividend payment through NEFT denotes payment of dividend electronically through RBI clearing to selected bank branches which have implemented Core Banking Solutions (CBS). This extends to all over the country, and is not necessarily restricted to the 91 designated centres where payment can be handled through ECS. To facilitate payment through NEFT, the shareholder is required to ensure that the bank branch where his/her account is operated, is under CBS and also records the particulars of the new bank account with the DP with whom the demat account is maintained.
2.7 What is payment of dividend through Direct Credit and how does it operate?
The Company will be appointing a bank as its Dividend banker for distribution of dividend. The said banker will carry out direct credit to those investors who are maintaining accounts with the said bank, provided the bank account details are registered with the DP for dematerialised shares and / or registered with the Company's R&TA prior to the payment of dividend for shares held in physical form.
2.8 What should a shareholder do in case of nonreceipt of dividend?
Shareholders may write to the Company's R&TA, furnishing the particulars of the dividend not received, and quoting the folio number /DPID and Client ID particulars (in case of dematerialised shares). On expiry of the validity period, if the dividend warrant is still shown as unpaid in the records of the Company, duplicate warrant will be issued. The R&TA would request the concerned shareholder to execute an indemnity before issuing the duplicate warrant.
No duplicate warrants will be issued against those shares wherein a 'stop transfer indicator' has been instituted either by virtue of a complaint or by law, unless the procedure for releasing the same has been completed.
2.9 Why do the shareholders have to wait till the expiry of the validity period of the original warrant for issue of duplicate warrant?
Since the dividend warrants are payable at par at several centres across the country, banks do not accept 'stop payment' instructions. Hence, shareholders have to wait till the expiry of the validity of the original warrant for issue of duplicate warrant. Validity of Dividend warrant is three months from the date of issue of the warrant.
2.10 Why shares should be transferred before the Book Closure/ Record Date fixed for dividend payment?
The dividend on shares lying in the clearing account of the brokers cannot be made available to the members directly by the Company. In case an investor has bought any shares, he must ensure that the shares are transferred to his demat account before the book closure / record date.
2.11 What are the Statutory provisions governing unpaid dividend?
As per the Companies Act, 2013, dividend which remains unpaid or unclaimed for a period of seven years shall be transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF).
Further, all shares in respect of which unpaid or unclaimed dividend has been transferred to IEPF shall also be transferred by the Company in the name of IEPF.
The shareholders whose amounts and shares have been transferred to IEPF, shall be entitled to get refund of the dividend and claim the transfer of shares from IEPF after complying with the prescribed procedure under the Companies Act, 2013.
2.12 Where can the status of unclaimed dividend not transferred to IEPF account be verified?
The Company has uploaded the details of unpaid and unclaimed amounts lying with the Company as on June 06, 2013 (date of last Annual General Meeting) on the website of the Company (www.ril.com), as also on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs website which can be accessed by the shareholders.
2.13 What is the status of unclaimed and unpaid dividend for different years?
The status of unclaimed and unpaid dividend of the Company is captured in Chart 1 below:
Chart 1: Status of unclaimed and unpaid dividend for different years:
| Unclaimed Dividend upto1994-95 |
Unclaimed Dividend for 1995-96 to 2006-07 |
Unclaimed Dividend for 2007-08 and thereafter |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer of unpaid dividend | Transferred to General Revenue account of the Central Government | Transferred to Central Government's Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) | Will be transferred to IEPF on due date(s) | |||
| Claims for unpaid dividend | Can be claimed from ROC, Maharashtra* | Can be claimed from IEPF | Can be claimed from the Company's R&TA within the time limits provided in Chart 2 given below | |||
* Shareholders who have not encashed their dividend warrant(s) relating to one or more of the financial year(s) (i) upto and including 1994-95 are requested to claim such dividend from the Registrar of Companies, Maharashtra, CGO Complex, 2nd Floor, "A Wing", CBD- Belapur, Navi Mumbai - 400 614. Telephone (091) (022) 2757 6802 and (ii) from 1995-96 to 2006-07, from IEPF after complying with the prescribed procedure under the Act.
Chart 2: Information in respect of unclaimed and unpaid dividends declared for 2007-08 and thereafter
Financial year ended |
Date of declaration of dividend
|
Last date for
claiming unpaid
dividend
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.03.2008 | 12.06.2008 | 11.06.2015 | ||||
| 31.03.2009 | 07.10.2009 | 06.10.2016 | ||||
| 31.03.2010 | 18.06.2010 | 17.06.2017 | ||||
| 31.03.2011 | 03.06.2011 | 02.06.2018 | ||||
| 31.03.2012 | 07.06.2012 | 06.06.2019 | ||||
| 31.03.2013 | 06.06.2013 | 05.06.2020 | ||||
| 31.03.2014 | 18.06.2014 | 18.06.2014 | ||||
2.14 What are the provisions relating to Tax on Dividend and Sale of Shares?
The provisions relating to tax on dividend and sale of shares are provided for ready reference of Shareholders:
Reminder letters to Investors
The Company gives an opportunity to investors by sending reminder letters on yearly basis for claiming their outstanding dividend amount which is due for transfer to Investor Education and Protection Fund.
Investors holding the shares in physical form should provide the National Electronic Clearing Service (NECS) mandate to the Company's R&TA and investors holding the shares in demat form should ensure that correct and updated particulars of their bank account are available with the Depository Participant (DP). This would facilitate in receiving direct credits of dividends, refunds etc., from companies and avoid postal delays and loss in transit. Investors must update their new bank account numbers allotted after implementation of Core Banking Solutions (CBS) to the Company's R&TA in case of shares held in physical form and to the DP in case of shares held in demat form.
3.1 What is Dematerialisation of shares?
Dematerialisation (Demat) is the process by which securities held in physical form are cancelled and destroyed and the ownership thereof is retained in fungible form in a depository by way of electronic balances.
3.2 Why dematerialise shares? Is Trading Compulsory in Demat Form?
SEBI has notified various companies whose shares shall be traded in demat form only. By virtue of such notification, the shares of the Company are also subject to compulsory trading only in demat form on the Stock Exchanges.
3.3 What are the benefits of Dematerialisation?
3.4 What is the procedure for dematerialisation of shares?
3.5 Can shares held jointly in physical form be dematerialised, if the sequence of names mentioned in certificate differs from sequence of names as per beneficiary account?
Depositories provide "Transposition cum Demat facility" to help joint holders to dematerialise securities in different sequence of names. For this purpose, DRF and Transposition Form should be submitted to the DP.
3.6 What is SMS alert facility?
NSDL and CDSL have launched SMS Alert facility for demat account holders whereby the investors can receive alerts for debits and credits in their demat accounts. Under this facility, investors can receive alerts, a day after such debits (transfers) / credits take place. These alerts are sent to those account holders who have provided their mobile numbers to their DPs. Alerts for debits are sent, if the debits (transfers) are up to five ISINs in a day. In case debits (transfers) are for more than five ISINs, alerts are sent with a message that debits for more than five ISINs have taken place and that the investor can check the details with the DP.
3.7 Why the Company cannot take on record bank details in case of dematerialised shares?
As per the Depository Regulations, the Company is obliged to pay dividend on dematerialised shares as per the bank account details furnished by the concerned Depository. Therefore, investors are requested to keep their bank particulars updated with their concerned DP.
3.8 What is rematerialisation of shares?
It is the process through which shares held in electronic form are converted into physical form by issuance of share certificate(s).
3.9 What is the procedure for rematerialisation of shares?
Open Demat Account and Dematerialise your shares
Investors should convert their physical holdings of securities into demat holdings to reap the benefits of dematerialisation set out under para 3.3 of this referencer.
Monitor holdings regularly
Demat account should not be kept dormant for long period of time. Periodic statement of holdings should be obtained from the concerned DP and holdings should be verified. Where the investor is likely to be away for a long period of time and where the securities are held in electronic form, the investor can make a request to the DP to keep the account frozen so that there can be no debit to the account till the instruction for freezing the account is countermanded by the investor.
Register for SMS alert facility
Investors should register their mobile numbers with DPs for SMS alert facility. National Securities Depository Limited and Central Depository Services (India) Limited proactively inform the investors of transaction in the demat account by sending SMS. Investors will be informed about debits and credits to their demat account without having to call- up their DPs and investors need not wait for receiving Transaction Statements from DPs to know about the debits and credits.
4.1 What is nomination facility and to whom is it more useful?
Section 72 of the Companies Act, 2013 provides the facility of nomination to shareholders. This facility is mainly useful for individuals holding shares in sole name. In the case of joint holding of shares by individuals, nomination will be effective only in the event of death of all joint holders.
4.2 What is the procedure for appointing a nominee?
Investors, especially those who are holding shares in single name, are advised to avail of the nomination facility by submitting the prescribed Form SH-13 for initial registration of nomination and Form SH-14 for cancellation and variation of nomination as per Companies Act, 2013 to the Company's R&TA. The said forms may be downloaded from the Company's website, www.ril.com under the section "Investor Relations".
However, if shares are held in dematerialised form, nomination has to be registered with the concerned DP directly, as per the format prescribed by the DP.
4.3 Who can appoint a nominee and who can be appointed as a nominee?
Individual shareholders holding the shares / debentures in single name or joint names can appoint a nominee. In case of joint holding, joint holders together have to appoint the nominee. An individual having capacity to contract only can be appointed as a nominee. Minor(s) can, however, be appointed as a nominee.
4.4 Can a nomination once made be revoked / varied?
It is possible to revoke / vary a nomination once made. If nomination is made by joint holders, and one of the joint holders dies, the remaining joint holder(s) can make a fresh nomination by revoking the existing nomination.
4.5 Are the joint holders deemed to be nominees to the shares?
Joint holders are not nominees; they are joint holders of the relevant shares having joint rights on the same. In the event of death of any one of the joint holders, the surviving joint holder(s) of the shares is / are the only person(s) recognised under law as holder(s) of the shares. Surviving joint holder(s) may appoint a nominee.
4.6 Is nomination form required to be witnessed?
A nomination form must be witnessed.
4.7 What rights are conferred on the nominee and how can he exercise the same?
As per the provisions of Section 72 of the Companies Act, 2013, the nominee is entitled to all the rights in the securities of the deceased shareholder in relation to such securities to the exclusion of all other persons. In the event of death of the shareholder, all the rights of the shareholder shall vest in the nominee. In case of joint holding, all the rights shall vest in the nominee only in the event of death of all the joint holders. The nominee is required to apply to the Company or to the DP as may be applicable by reporting death of the nominator along with the attested copy of the death certificate.
Submit Nomination Form
Investors should register their nominations in case of physical shares with the Company's R&TA and in case of dematerialised shares with their DP. Nomination would help the nominees to get the shares transmitted in their favour without any hassles. Investors must ensure that nomination made is in the prescribed Form and must be witnessed in order to be effective. The Form may be downloaded from the Company's website www.ril.com under the section "Investor Relations".
5.1 What is the procedure for transfer of shares in favour of transferee(s)?
Transferee(s) need to send share certificate(s) along with share transfer deed in the prescribed Form SH-4 as per Companies Act, 2013, duly filled in, executed and share transfer stamps affixed, to the Company's R&TA. It takes about 3 working days for the Company's R&TA to process the transfer from the date of lodgement, although the statutory time limit fixed for completing a transfer is 15 days under the Listing Agreement and one month under the Companies Act, 2013.
5.2 Is submission of Permanent Account Number (PAN) mandatory for transfer / transmission / transposition of shares in physical form?
SEBI has made it mandatory to furnish a copy of the PAN to the Company / R&TA in the following cases, viz., (a) for securities market transactions and off-market transactions involving transfer of shares in physical form; (b) Deletion of name of the deceased holder(s), where the shares are held in the name of two or more shareholders; (c) Transmission of shares to legal heir(s), where deceased shareholder was the sole holder of the shares; and (d) Transposition of shares - where there is a change in the order of names in which physical shares are held jointly in the names of two or more shareholders.
5.3 What should transferee (purchaser) do in case transfer form is returned with objections?
Transferee needs to immediately proceed to get the errors/ discrepancies corrected. Transferee needs to contact the transferor (seller) either directly or through his broker for rectification or replacement with good securities. After rectification or replacement of the securities, the same should be resubmitted for effecting transfer. In case the errors are non-rectifiable, purchaser has recourse to the seller and/or his broker through the Stock Exchange to get back his money. However, in case of off-market transactions, matter should be settled with the seller only.
5.4 Can single holding of shares be converted into joint holdings or joint holdings into single holding? If yes, what is the procedure involved in doing the same?
Yes, conversion of single holding into joint holdings or joint holdings into single holding or transfer within the family members leads to a change in the pattern of ownership, and therefore, the procedure for a normal transfer as mentioned above needs to be followed.
5.5 How to get shares registered which are received by way of gift? Does it attract stamp duty?
The procedure for registration of shares gifted (held in physical form) is same as the procedure for a normal transfer. The stamp duty payable for registration of gifted shares would be @ 25 paise for every ` 100 or part thereof,of the market value of the shares prevailing as on the date of the document, if any, conveying the gift or the date of execution of the transfer deed, whichever is higher. In case the shares held in demat form are gifted no stamp duty is payable.
5.6 What is the procedure for getting shares in the name of surviving shareholder(s), in case of joint holding, in the event of death of one shareholder?
The surviving shareholder(s) will have to submit a request letter supported by an attested copy of the death certificate of the deceased shareholder and accompanied by the relevant share certificate(s). The Company's R&TA, on receipt of the said documents and after due scrutiny, will delete the name of the deceased shareholder from its records and return the share certificate(s) to the surviving shareholder(s) with necessary endorsement.
5.7 What is the procedure for getting physical shares in the name of legal heir(s), in case of single holding and nomination is not registered, in the event of death of sole shareholder?
If the value of shares of the company as on the date of application is up to ` 2,00,000, the legal heir(s) should submit the following documents along with a request letter, transmission form, attested copy of the death certificate of the deceased shareholder and the share certificate(s) in original, to the Company's R&TA for transmission of the shares in his / their name(s):
If the value of shares of the company as on the date of application is more than ` 2,00,000, the legal heir(s) should submit the following documents along with a request letter, transmission form, attested copy of the death certificate of the deceased shareholder and the share certificate(s) in original, to the Company's R&TA for transmission of the shares in his / their name(s):
5.8 What is the procedure for getting demat shares in the name of legal heir(s), in case of single holding and nomination is not registered, in the event of death of sole shareholder?
If the value of shares of the company as on the date of application is up to ` 5,00,000, the legal heir(s) should submit the following documents to the DP:
If the value of shares of the company as on the date of application is more than ` 5,00,000, the legal heir(s) should additionally submit one of the following documents to the DP:
Note:
As per SEBI Circular dated October 28, 2013, the timeline for processing the transmission requests by the DP for securities held in dematerialised mode shall be 7 days and by the Company/R&TA for the securities held in physical mode shall be 21 days, after receipt of the prescribed documents from the claimants/legal heirs.
5.9 How can the change in order of names (i.e. transposition) be effected?
Share certificates along with a request letter duly signed by all the joint holders may be sent to the Company's R&TA for change in order of names, known as 'transposition'. Transposition can be done only for the entire holdings under a folio and therefore, requests for transposition of part holding cannot be accepted by the Company / R&TA. For shares held in demat form, investors are advised to approach their DP concerned for transposition of the names.
5.10 What is the procedure for obtaining duplicate share certificate(s) in case of loss / misplacement of original share certificate(s)?
Shareholders who have lost / misplaced share certificate(s) should inform the Company's R&TA, immediately about loss of share certificate(s), quoting their folio number and details of share certificate(s), if available.
The R&TA shall immediately mark a 'stop transfer' on the folio to prevent any further transfer of shares covered by the lost share certificate(s). It is recommended that the shareholders should lodge a FIR with police station regarding loss of share certificate(s).
They should send their request for duplicate share certificate(s) to the Company's R&TA and submit documents as required by the R&TA.
5.11 What is the procedure to get the share certificates issued in various denominations consolidated into a single certificate?
Consolidation of share certificates helps in saving costs in the event of dematerialising shares and also provides convenience in holding the shares physically. Shareholders having certificates in various denominations under the same folio should send all the certificates to the Company's R&TA for consolidation of all the shares into a single certificate.
If the shares are not under the same folio but have the same order of names, the shareholder should write to the Company's R&TA for the prescribed form for consolidation of folios. This will help the investors to efficiently monitor the holding and the corporate benefits receivable thereon.
Consolidation of Folios
The Company has initiated a unique investor servicing measure for consolidation of small holdings within the same household. In terms of this, those shareholders holding less than 10 shares (under a single folio) in the Company, within the same household, can send such shares for transfer along with transfer forms duly filled in and signed, free of cost; the stamp duty involved in such cases will be borne by the Company.
Scheme for disposal of 'Odd Lot' Equity Shares
At the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on June 26, 1998, Company's Founder Chairman Shri Dhirubhai H. Ambani, announced, for the benefit of small shareholders, a scheme for disposal of 'Odd Lot' shares (the Scheme) to facilitate such shareholders to realise the full market value without having to suffer a discount for odd lots.
In order to assist small shareholders in disposal of such odd lot shares held in physical form, the Company has formed a Trust known as 'Reliance Odd Lot Shares Trust' which will dispose off the odd lot shares on behalf of the shareholders.
The salient features of the Scheme in force from July 1, 1998, are as under :
Consolidate Multiple Folios
Investors should consolidate their shareholding held in multiple folios. This would facilitate one-stop tracking of all corporate benefits on the shares and would reduce time and efforts required to monitor multiple folios.
Opt for Corporate Benefits in Electronic Form
In case of non cash corporate benefits like split of shares / bonus shares, the holders of shares in physical form must opt to get the shares in electronic form by providing the details of demat account to the R&TA.
Exercise caution
There is likelihood of fraudulent transfers in case of folios with no movement or where the shareholder has either expired or is not residing at the address registered with the Company. Company should be updated on any change of address or contact details. Similarly, information of death of shareholder should also be communicated.
Mode of Postage
Share certificates and high value dividend / interest warrants / cheques / demand drafts should not be sent by ordinary post. It is recommended that investors should send such instruments by registered post or courier.
6.1 What are the Regulatory provisions and procedure governing unclaimed shares lying in physical form with the Company or its R&TA ?
As per Clause 5A of the Listing Agreement with the Stock Exchanges:
6.2 What is the status of compliance by the Company with regard to these provisions?
In terms of Clause 5A of the Listing Agreement, details relating to unclaimed shares lying in the suspense account at the beginning of the year, number of shareholders who had approached the Company claiming for the unclaimed shares, number of shareholders, to whom the said unclaimed shares were transferred from the suspense accounts during the year and the aggregate number of shareholders along with number of unclaimed shares lying in the suspense account at the end of the year, have been set out under Para "Equity Shares in Suspense Account" in the Corporate Governance Report.
As per Section 124(6) of the Companies Act, 2013, all shares in respect of which unpaid or unclaimed dividend has been transferred to IEPF shall also be transferred by the company in the name of IEPF. However, the shares can be claimed by the investor after following the prescribed procedure under the Act.
1. Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) e-Governance initiative christened as "MCA 21" on the MCA portal (www.mca.gov. in): One of the key benefits of this initiative includes timely redressal of investor grievances. MCA 21 system accepts complaints under the eForm prescribed, which has to be filed online.
The status of complaint can be viewed by quoting the Service Request Number (SRN) provided at the time of filing the complaint.
2. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
SEBI, in its endeavour to protect the interest of investors, has provided a platform wherein the investors can lodge their grievances. This facility is available on the SEBI website (www.sebi.gov.in) under the Investor Guidance Section.
3. SEBI Complaints Redress System (SCORES)
The investor complaints are processed in a centralized web based complaints redress system. The salient features of this system are: Centralised database of all complaints. Online upload of Action Taken Reports (ATRs) by the concerned companies and online viewing by investors of actions taken on the complaint and its current status.
All companies against whom complaints are pending on SCORES, will have to take necessary steps within 4 days of receipt of complaint through SCORES and resolve the complaint within 30 days of receipt of complaint and also keep the complainant duly informed of the action taken.
SEBI has issued guidance to general public about effective ways to redress their grievances. The guidance lists down the matters which are considered as complaints and handled by SEBI, the matters which are not considered as complaints, how the investor complaints' are handled by SEBI, the arbitration mechanism, etc.
4. Stock Exchanges
National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) - NSE has formed an Investor Grievance Cell (IGC) to redress investors' grievances electronically. The investors have to log on to the website of NSE i.e. www.nseindia.com and go to the link "Investors Service".
BSE Limited (BSE) - BSE provides an opportunity to the investors to file their complaints electronically through its website www.bseindia.com under the "Investor Grievances".
5. Depositories
National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) - In order to help its clients resolve their doubts, queries, complaints, NSDL has provided an opportunity wherein they can raise their queries by logging on to www.nsdl.co.in under the "Investors" section or an email can be marked mentioning the query to relations@nsdl.co.in.
Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL) - Investors who wish to seek general information on depository services may mail their queries to investors@cdslindia.com. With respect to the complaints / grievances of the demat account holders relating to the services of the DP, mails may be addressed to complaints@cdslindia.com
Change of address
What is the procedure to get change of address registered in the Company's records?
Shareholders holding shares in physical form, may send a request letter, duly signed by all the holders, giving the new address along with Pin Code, to the Company's R&TA. Shareholders are also requested to quote their folio number and furnish proof of address such as attested copies of Ration Card / PAN Card / Passport / Latest Electricity or Telephone Bill / Lease Agreement, Aadhaar Card, etc. If shares are held in dematerialised form, information about change in address needs to be sent to the DP concerned.
Change of name
What is the procedure for registering change of name of shareholders?
Shareholders may request the Company's R&TA for effecting change of name in the share certificate(s) and records of the Company. Original share certificate(s) along with the supporting documents like marriage certificate, court order etc. should be enclosed. The Company's R&TA, after verification, will effect the change of name and send the share certificate(s) in the new name of the shareholders. Shareholders holding shares in demat form, may request the concerned DP in the format prescribed by DP.
Authority to another person to deal with shares
What is the procedure for authorising any other person to deal with the shares of the Company?
Shareholder needs to execute a Power of Attorney in favour of the concerned person and submit a notarised copy of the same to the Company's R&TA. After scrutiny of the documents, the R&TA shall register the Power of Attorney and inform the shareholders concerned about the registration number of the same. Whenever a transaction is done by the Power of Attorney holder, this registration number should be quoted in the communication.
Permanent Account Number (PAN)
It has become mandatory to quote PAN before entering into any transaction in the securities market. The Income Tax Department of India has highlighted the importance of PAN on its website: www.incometaxindia.gov.in wherein lot of queries with respect to PAN have been replied to in the FAQ section.
Insider Trading
The Securities and Exchange Board of India vide its Notification dated January 15, 2015 has notified The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015 (New Regulations). The New Regulations will come into effect from May 15, 2015 and The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 1992 shall stand repealed from that date. Under the New Regulations, the requirements of initial disclosures are applicable to promoter, key managerial personnel and director of a company and requirements of continual disclosures are applicable to promoter, employee and director of a company.
Takeover Regulations
SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011 cast obligation on the investor (acquirer) to make disclosure w.r.t. acquisition and disposal of shares. The relevant provisions as contained in the Regulations 29 (1), (2) and (3) are given below:
Disclosure of acquisition
Any acquirer who acquires shares (including convertible securities) or voting rights in a target company which taken together with shares or voting rights, if any, held by him and by persons acting in concert with him in such target company, aggregating to five per cent or more of the shares of such target company, should disclose their aggregate shareholding and voting rights in such target company, to target company and Stock Exchanges within 2 working days to the receipt of intimation of the allotment / acquisition, as the case may be.
Disclosure, in case of change in holding
Any person, who together with persons acting in concert with him, holds shares or voting rights entitling them to five per cent or more of the shares or voting rights in a target company, should disclose the number of shares or voting rights held and change in shareholding or voting rights, even if such change results in shareholding falling below five per cent, if there has been change in such holdings from the last disclosure made; and such change exceeds two per cent of total shareholding or voting rights in such target company, to target company and Stock Exchanges within 2 working days of such change.
E-voting
The Companies Act, 2013 and Clause 35B of the Listing Agreement requires a listed Company to provide e-voting facility to its shareholders, in respect of all shareholders' resolutions, to be passed at General Meetings.
Register e-mail address
To contribute towards greener environment and to receive all documents, notices, including Annual Reports and other communications of the Company, investors are requested to register their e-mail addresses with Karvy, if shares are held in physical mode or with their DP, if the holding is in electronic mode.
Intimate mobile number
Intimate your mobile number and changes therein if any to Karvy, if shares are held in physical mode or to your DP if the holding is in electronic mode, to receive communications on corporate actions and other information of the Company.
Note:
The contents of this Referencer are for the purpose of general information. Readers are advised to refer to the relevant Acts / Rules / Regulations / Guidelines / Clarifications.