Appeal No.30/2006
Date of Decision
13.02.2006
In the matter of:
Bipin R. Vora
Appellant – Represented by Mr. Rajeev Kumar, Advocate.
Versus
Securities & Exchange Board of India
Coram:
Justice N. K. Sodhi, Presiding Officer
C. Bhattacharya, Member
R. N. Bhardwaj, Member
Per: Justice N. K. Sodhi, Presiding Officer (Oral)
This appeal filed under section 15 T of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (for short “the Act”) deserves to be allowed on the short ground that the Board in the impugned order has given no reasons whatsoever while agreeing with the findings recorded by the inquiry officer. The operative portion of the impugned order reads as under:
“Having examined the Enquiry Report, the Show Cause Notice issued to the broker and the reply from the broker reiterating the submissions already made before Enquiry Officer, and the oral and written submissions made before me during the personal hearing, I agree with findings and the recommendation of the Enquiry Officer.”
2. Serious allegations had been leveled against the appellant alleging that he had violated the provisions of the Act and the Code of Conduct prescribed under the regulations and he is a registered broker with the Bombay Stock Exchange. The least that is expected from a quasi judicial body like the Board is to apply its mind after considering the material on record and then come to its own conclusions even if it agrees with the findings of the enquiry officer. It is not enough for the Board to say that it agrees with the findings of the enquiry officer without recording its own reasons and without considering the material on record. In this view of the matter it is not necessary for us to go into the merits of the submissions made by the learned counsel for the appellant.
3. In the result, the appeal is allowed, impugned order dated 25/1/2006 set aside and the case remanded to the Board for a fresh decision in accordance with law after passing a speaking order. The appellant through his counsel is directed to appear before the Board on March 6, 2006 for further proceedings. No costs.
Presiding Officer
C. Bhattacharya
Member
R. N. Bhardwaj
13/02/2006.