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Media Release

 

SEMINAR ON INVESTOR PROTECTION

"Investor. s Grievances Forum (IGF) and Bombay Stock Exchange(BSE), jointly organised a Seminar on "Investors Protection in Changing Economic Scenario" on 21st February, 2000 at Mumbai.


Among others, the following dignitaries addressed the gathering.


  • Shri Ram Jethmalani, Honorable Union Law Minister.

  • Shri D.R.Mehta, Chairman, SEBI

  • Shri Kirit Somaiya , M.P., President Investor Grievances Forum

  • Shri Anand Rathi , President, BSE

  • Smt. Deena Mehta - Vice President, BSE

  • Smt. D.N.Raval, Executive Director (Legal), SEBI

  • Shri J.J.Bhatt ,Director, BSE

  • D C P Shinde , Economic Offence Wing.

  • Shri B. Narsimhan, President ,MCS Ltd.

    Shri Anand Rathi, BSE President, in his opening address announced that BSE has decided to help the Investor. s Associations in several ways.. For this purpose, he announced an earmarking of Rs.1 Crore from BSE for the Investors. Associations who would be taking up investor. s grievances with the regulatory authorities and who would be undertaking investor. s education / awareness programs etc.He also announced that for this purpose a committee consisting of five to six representatives of Investor. s Associations will be formed to work out the modalities in this behalf.

    Shri Ram Jethmalani emphasized for more disclosures to be made by Corporates, Right to get more information from the companies will be brought within the ambit of Freedom of Information Act . All companies will be required to disclose legitimate information including financial and other to the public on request. At the same time, companies would be given protection from disclosing their trade secrets by insisting that only legitimate information be disclosed. This Act would repeal the Official Secrets Act which is existing at present and would act as a restraint on vanishing and fraudulent Companies. Further the Govt. plans to present a Bill on Competition in Parliament by April of this year thereby promoting competition among the Corporates, who will strive for excellence. He agreed to make changes in the recently introduced bill on Company Law to take into account the charter of demands given by the Investor. s Grievance Forum. He summed up by requesting the Investor Grievance Forum to educate the Investors so as to enable them to take a right decisions of investment.


    Mr. D.R.Mehta, Chairman, SEBI, gave a brief account of investor friendly discussed about measures taken by SEBI to improve the transparency in primary as well as secondary market. He emphasized on systematic changes in the capital Market and proactive role that could be played by the Investors. Association.


    Mr. Kirit Somaiya, presented investor. s Charter of Demand to Union Law Minister, Shri Ram Jethmalani , so that the some of the suggestions can be incorporated in the Companies Act Amendment Bill .The Charter of demands includes extension of Investor. s Protection Act as a Central Act, Introduction of NBFC Act, speedy disposal of the cases & disputes etc.


    BSE has already identified 721 scips and put them in "Z" Category . Shri J.J.Bhatt suggested that a monetary penalty be imposed on the companies for not complying with the provisions of listing agreement. He desired that todays. s investor has to be an enlightened one so that he can take well informed investment decision.


    Prof. Manubhai Shah.(CREC, Ahmedabad) suggested that since shri Kirit Somaiya is the member of the Parliament, he should register himself with standing /Consulatative Committee of Parliament & Petition committee and the same was accepted.


    Isuues related to vanishing , Fraudulent Companies, Plantation Companies & NBFC were discussed at length. There should be a clear demarcation of responsibilities of the various authorities such as DCA, CLB, RBI , SEBI & other Regulators. It is realized that the investors are the ultimate customers. It was pointed out that risk is an inherent factor in the capital market. Investor. s protection does not mean Investment Protection, So today. s investors should be cautious enough to take decisions regarding the investment.


    J.J.Bhatt.
    Director-Investors Service & Listing"

    26th February, 2000.

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