Akg Securities & Consultancy Ltd. vs Sebi
- CitationAppeal No. 318 of 2014
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
The Adjudicating Officer's order passed ex parte, in which the Adjudicating Officer failed to consider its own earlier decision in the appellant's case on similar facts holding the charges unestablished, cannot stand; such an order is liable to be quashed and the matter restored to the Adjudicating Officer for a fresh decision on merits in accordance with law, with all contentions of both parties kept open.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
Date of Decision : 22.03.2016
Appeal No. 318 of 2014
AKG Securities & Consultancy Ltd. 3776/309 Nirman Market, NS Marg, Daria Ganj, New Delhi - 110 002. ...Appellant
Versus
Securities and Exchange Board of India, SEBI Bhavan, Plot No. C-4A, G-Block, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra (East), Mumbai - 400 051. ...Respondent
Ms. Rishika Harish, Advocate with Mr. Amit Dey, Advocate for the Appellant.
Mr. Kumar Desai, Advocate with Mr. Tomu Francis, Advocate for the Respondent.
CORAM : Justice J.P. Devadhar, Presiding Officer Jog Singh, Member
Per : J.P. Devadhar (Oral)
1.
This appeal is filed to challenge the order passed by the Adjudicating
Officer of Securities and Exchange Board of India ('SEBI' for short) on
June 30, 2014 whereby penalty of Rs. 10 lac is imposed upon the appellant
u/s 15HA of the SEBI Act, 1992.
2. It is not in dispute that the impugned order is an ex-parte order.
Counsel for SEBI submitted that inspite of notice, the appellant failed to
appear for personal hearing and hence the ex-parte order is passed. 2
3. It is not in dispute that in similar circumstances, the Adjudicating
Officer of SEBI in assessee's own case has held that the charges do not
stand established. However, the said decision has not been considered while
passing the order impugned in the present appeal.
4. In this view of the matter the impugned order dated June 30, 2014 is
quashed and set aside and the matter is restored to the file of the
Adjudicating Officer of SEBI for passing fresh order on merits and in
accordance with law. All contentions of both parties are kept open.
5. Appeal is disposed of in the above terms with no order as to costs.
Sd/-
Justice J.P. Devadhar Presiding Officer
Sd/-
Jog Singh Member
22.03.2016 Prepared and compared by:
msb
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