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Order in the matter of Kesharia Spinners Limited

Securities And Exchange Board Of India1 November 2016

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

Where a listed company has been directed by SEBI circular to obtain SCORES authentication and to redress investor complaints through SCORES, and it has not done so, its failure to comply with those directions is a breach of its obligation under section 11 of the SEBI Act to follow SEBI's advice and directions, in addition to its obligations under the Companies Act. Where noticees, served with show cause notices and given an opportunity of personal hearing, neither appear nor file any reply, and the opportunities granted are sufficient, SEBI may decide the matter on the material available on record. Failure by a listed company to redress investor grievances adversely affects investor confidence in the securities market, and this justifies directions under section 11B against the company and its directors, restraining them from accessing the securities market and from buying, selling or dealing in securities, directly or indirectly, until the pending investor grievances are resolved.

Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.

Judgment

As delivered

WTM/RKA/EFD/DRA II/183/2016 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 Kesharia Spinners Limited its directors, namely, Mr. Mukesh Jain, Mr. Kamal C Jain, Mr. Amratlal K Pokerna and Mr. Hari Rai 1. 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. 2. However, certain companies, including Kesharia Spinners Limited (hereinafter referred to as ‘the company’) 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.

3. Since, the company did not obtain SCORES authentication and failed to redress eleven investor grievance, SEBI issued Show Cause Notices (SCNs) dated March 28, 2013, April 26, 2013 and October 13, 2014 to the company and its directors, namely, Mr. Mukesh Jain, Mr. Kamal C Jain, Mr. Amratlal K Pokerna and Mr. Hari Rai (hereinafter 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 should not be passed under section 11B of the SEBI Act. The SCNs returned undelivered. 4. Notice to the effect of issuance of SCNs and granting of opportunity of personal hearing on October 05, 2016 was published in newspaper on September 11, 2016. However, the noticees chose not to appear for the personal hearing on the scheduled date. 5. 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 In the matter of Keshariya Spinners Limited 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. 6. I note that as on October 04, 2016, the company had not obtained SCORES authentication and thirteen investor complaints were pending against the company for redressal. 7. 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 grievance and in spite of repeated advice of SEBI, the said investor grievances are pending till date. 8. 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 noticees as contemplated in the SCNs. 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 Keshariya Spinners Limited its directors, namely, Mr. Mukesh Jain, Mr. Kamal C Jain, Mr. Amratlal K Pokerna and Mr. Hari Rai from accessing the securities market and from buying, selling or dealing in securities, directly or indirectly, in whatsoever manner, till the company 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. 9. 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: November 01, 2016 RAJEEV KUMAR AGARWAL Place: Mumbai WHOLE TIME MEMBER SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA

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