Order in respect of Libra Filaments Ltd
- Order No.WTM/RKA/EFD/DRAII/72/2016
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
The power under section 11B of the SEBI Act to restrain a listed company and its directors from accessing the securities market may be exercised where the company, despite SEBI's circular requiring SCORES authentication and public notice, has not obtained that authentication and has left investor complaints unresolved, and the company's obligation to redress those complaints is an obligation to comply with SEBI's advice and directions under section 11 of the Act. Where the noticees have been given opportunities to appear and reply, and have neither appeared nor filed any written reply, the authority may decide the matter on the basis of the material on record. Persistent failure to redress investor grievances by a listed company adversely affects investor confidence in the securities market, and such failure justifies directions under section 11B against the company and its directors, restraining them from dealing in securities until the company obtains SCORES authentication and resolves the pending grievances.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
WTM/RKA/EFD/DRA II/72/2016 BEFORE THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA ORDER UNDER SECTION 11B OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA ACT, 1992 In respect of (1) Libra Filaments Limited and its directors namely, (2) Mr. Omprakash Jogani, (3) Mr. Lalit Jogani, (4) Mr. Nandu Poddar and (5) Mr. Manish Jogani 1. Libra Filaments Limited (hereinafter referred to as ‘the company’) is a listed company having its office address at 329/31, Badamwadi, Kalbadevi Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400 002. 2. SEBI vide its circular no. CIR/OIAE/1/2012 dated August 13, 2012 directed all listed companies to obtain SEBI Complaints Redress System (SCORES) authentication by September 14, 2012 and to take appropriate necessary steps within seven days of receipt of complaints through SCORES, so as to resolve the complaint within thirty days of its receipt. 3. However, since certain companies, including Libra Filaments Limited did not obtain SCORES authentication within the time period specified in the aforementioned circular, a public notice was issued on January 13, 2013, advising inter alia the companies to obtain SCORES authentication within seven days from the date of the advertisement, failing which SEBI would be constrained to initiate appropriate enforcement actions. However, the company still failed to obtain SCORES authentication and resolve pending investor complaints. 4. Since the company did not obtain SCORES authentication and failed to redress nine investor grievances, SEBI issued Show Cause Notices (SCNs) dated September 12, 2014 to the company and its directors namely, Mr. Omprakash Jogani, Mr. Lalit Jogani, Mr. Nandu Poddar and Mr. Manish Jogani (hereinafter collectively referred to as "the noticees") calling upon them to show cause as to why suitable directions including direction to restrain them from accessing the securities market for a specified period
In the matter of Libra Filaments Limited should not be passed under section 11B of the SEBI Act. The SCNs returned undelivered from the last known address of the company. Accordingly, on April 02, 2016 the SCNs were served through affixture on the last known address of the company. 5. Opportunity of personal hearing was granted to the company and its directors on May 10, 2016. The notice to this effect was served through affixture on the company's last known address. However the company and its directors chose not to appear for the personal hearing on the scheduled date. 6. I note that sufficient opportunities have been granted to the noticees and they are not keen to avail the same. I further note that the noticees have not even filed any written reply/submission to the SCNs. In view of these facts and circumstances, I deem it appropriate to decide the matter on the basis of material available on record. 7. I note that as on June 20, 2016 the company had not obtained SCORES authentication, as required under SEBI circular dated August 13, 2012. I further note that as on June 20, 2016 all nine investor complaints as indicated in SCNs were pending against the company for redressal.
8. I note that the investor complaints are pending unresolved since the year 2011. In addition to the obligations under the provisions of Companies Act, the company is also under an obligation to redress all investor complaints in terms of the advice/directions of SEBI, in view of the provisions of section 11 of the SEBI Act. However, the company has not shown any tenacity in resolving the investor grievances and in spite of repeated advice of SEBI, the said investor grievances are pending till date. 9. Failure to redress investor grievances, by a listed company adversely affects the confidence of investors in the securities market. In view of the foregoing, I am of the view that it is a fit case to issue appropriate directions under section 11B of the SEBI Act against the company and its directors as contemplated in the show cause notices issued to them. I, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me under section 19 of the SEBI Act read with sections 11 and 11B thereof, hereby restrain and prohibit Libra Filaments Limited and its directors namely, Mr. Omprakash Jogani, Mr. Lalit Jogani, Mr. Nandu Poddar and Mr. Manish Jogani from accessing the securities market and from buying, selling or dealing in securities, directly or indirectly, in whatsoever manner, till the company obtains SCORES authentication in terms of the SEBI circular dated August 13, 2012 and resolves all the investor grievances pending against it.
The aforesaid direction is without prejudice to any other action that may be taken against the company and its directors in accordance with law. 10. This Order shall come into force with immediate effect. A copy of this Order shall also be served upon the depositories and stock exchanges for necessary action.
Sd/- Date: June 29th, 2016 RAJEEV KUMAR AGARWAL Place: Mumbai WHOLE TIME MEMBER SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA
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