CIRCULAR
SEBI/HO/MIRSD/MIRSD_RTAMB/P/CIR/2021/655
November 03, 2021

To
All registered Registrars to an Issue and Share Transfer Agents (RTA) All Listed Companies through Recognized Stock Exchanges Recognized Stock Exchanges All Recognized Depositories Depository Participants through Depositories

Sir / Madam,

Common and Simplified Norms for processing investor’s service request by RTAs and norms for furnishing PAN, KYC details and Nomination

1. As an on-going measure to enhance the ease of doing business for investors in the securities market, the following norms, with respect to the captioned matter, shall be applicable;

1.1.Common and simplified norms for processing any service request from the holder, pertaining to the captioned items, by the RTAs

1.2.Electronic interface for processing investor’s queries, complaints and service request

1.3.Mandatory furnishing of PAN, KYC details and Nomination by holders of physical securities

1.4.Freezing of folios without valid PAN, KYC details and Nomination

1.5.Compulsory linking of PAN and Aadhaar by all holders of physical securities

2. Standardized, simplified and common norms for processing investor service request

Investors holding securities in physical mode interface with the RTAs, inter-alia, for

i) Registering of / Change in / Up-dation of: a) PAN, b) Nominee, c) Contact details (postal address, Mobile number & E-mail), d) Bank details and e) Signature.

ii) Processing of request for: a) Issue of Duplicate securities certificate b) Replacement / Renewal / Exchange of securities certificate, c) Consolidation of securities certificate d) Sub-division / Splitting of securities certificate, e) Consolidation of folios, f) Endorsement, g) Change in the name of the holder, h) Change in status from Minor to Major and Resident to NRI and vice versa, i) Claim for undelivered securities certificate, prior to its transfer Unclaimed

Suspense Account, j) Claim from Unclaimed Suspense (demat) Account k) Transmission and l) Transposition.

iii) Services through Depository Participants (DPs) for Demat and Remat

In this regard, Norms for processing investor service requests, including the aforementioned are standardized, simplified and made common across all service request, as follows;

2.1.Minor mismatch in signature

a) In case of minor mismatch in the signature of the securities holder as available in the folio of the RTA and the present signature, the RTA, while processing the service request, shall intimate the holder by Speed post about the minor mis-match in signature, providing timeline of 15 days for raising objection, if any. In the absence of any objection, the service request shall be processed.

b) If the letter returns undelivered or if there is an objection, as aforesaid, the RTA shall obtain signature verification by the banker before proceeding the service request.

2.2.Major mismatch in signature or Signature Card is not available

In case of major mismatch in the signature of the holder as available in the folio of the RTA and the present signature or if the same is not available with the RTA, then the holder / claimant shall furnish original cancelled cheque and banker’s attestation of the signature as per Form ISR-2.

2.3.Mismatch in name

a) For minor mismatch in name between any two set of documents presented by holder / claimant for any service request, the RTA shall additionally obtain any one of the following documents, explaining the difference in names;

• Unique Identification Number (UID) (Aadhaar)

• Valid Passport

• Driving license

• PAN card with photograph

• Identity card / document with applicant’s Photo, issued by any of the following: Central / State Government and its Departments, Statutory / Regulatory Authorities, Public Sector Undertakings, Scheduled Commercial Banks, Public Financial Institutions.

• Marriage certificate

• Divorce decree

b) The existing norms of the Depositories, to process demat request where there is a minor mis-match on account of initials not being spelt out fully, or put after or prior to surname, provided the signature in the Demat Request Form (DRF) matches with the signature card with the RTA, shall continue to be in force.

2.4. Furnishing of PAN

a) PAN is mandatory for all transactions in securities market as per circular dated April 27, 2007 and it is also one of the document for proof of identity. Accordingly, it is reiterated that it is mandatory for all holders and claimants of physical securities to furnish PAN and it is mandatory for RTAs to verify PAN details through the facility as may be provided by the Income Tax Department (ITD). In this regard, SEBI registered RTAs have been authorized as an eligible entity by the ITD to verify PANs through its ‘Online PAN Bulk Verification’ (PBV) facility.

b) Additionally, the ‘Exemptions/clarifications to PAN’, as provided in clause D to ‘Instructions/Check List for Filing KYC Forms’ in Annexure – 1 to SEBI circular No. MIRSD/SE/Cir-21/2011 dated October 05, 2011 on Uniform Know Your Client (KYC) Requirements for the Securities Market, shall also applicable for holder(s) / claimant(s) of securities held in physical mode.

2.5.Documents for Proof of Address

2.5.1. The RTA shall obtain any one of the following documents from the holder / claimant, if the address is not available in the folio or for processing the request for its change;

a) Valid Passport / Registered Lease or Sale Agreement of Residence / Driving License / Flat Maintenance bill.

b) Utility bills like Telephone Bill (only land line), Electricity bill or Gas bill - Not more than 3 months old.

c) Identity card / document with address, issued by any of the following: Central/State Government and its Departments, Statutory / Regulatory Authorities, Public Sector Undertakings, Scheduled Commercial Banks, Public Financial Institutions

d) For FII / sub account, Power of Attorney given by FII / sub-account to the Custodians (which are duly notarized and / or apostilled or consularised) that gives the registered address should be taken.

e) The proof of address in the name of the spouse.

f) Client Master List (CML) of the Demat Account of the holder / claimant, provided by the Depository Participant.

2.5.2. RTAs shall forthwith send intimation about the request for change in
address to the holder at both the old and new addresses by Speed post, providing, timeline of 15 days for raising objection, if any.

a) In the absence of any objection, the request shall be processed.

b) If any one of the letter returns undelivered or if there is an objection, the RTA shall obtain any one of the documents mentioned above reflecting the old address as available in the folio or counterfoil of dividend warrant received from the company or bank statement showing credit of dividend.

2.6.Self-attestation to replace Affidavits, Attestation / Notarization

For all service request, except transmission, copies of documents that are summited in hard copy shall be processed by the RTA only if the same is self-attested by the holder(s), with date. It is clarified that the RTA shall not insist on affidavits or attestation / notarization of documents.

2.7.Indemnity

RTA shall not insist on indemnity for any service request, unless the same is specially provided in the Companies Act, 2013 or the Rules issued thereunder or in SEBI Regulations or circulars issued thereunder.

2.8.Form for availing investor services

RTA shall process all investor service request by accepting the duly filled up request Form ISR-1(pdf) (word file) to this circular. Listed companies and RTAs shall make this form available in their websites.

2.9.KYC details across all folios of the holder, maintained by the RTA

RTAs shall update the PAN and KYC details across all the folios of the holder managed by it, upon specific authorization for the same from the holder, as provided in Form ISR-1(pdf) (word file).

In this regard, RTA shall update the folio(s) of the holder with the information on 1) present address, 2) bank details, 3) E-mail address and 4) mobile number from the details available in the Client Master List (CML), if the holder / claimant provides the CML.

2.10. Mode for providing documents / details by investors

The RTA shall enable the holder / claimant to provide the aforesaid document /details by any one of the following mode;

a) through ‘In Person Verification’ (IPV): the authorized person of the RTA shall verify the original documents furnished by the investor and retain copy(ies) with IPV stamping with date and initials

b) through hard copies which are self-attested and dated

c) through electronic mode with e-sign, as elaborated subsequently.

2.11. Timelines for registering of / up-dation of / change in PAN, KYC and nomination

RTAs shall process any of the aforesaid request from the holder, within seven working days of receipt of the complete documents / details.

However, as provided in the Rule 19 (10) of the Companies (Share Capital and Debenture) Rules, 2014, as amended from time to time, the cancellation or change in nomination shall take effect from the date on which the intimation for the same is received by the company / RTA.

2.12. Display of contact details of RTAs

RTAs shall provide their complete contact details (viz. postal address, phone numbers and e-mail address etc.) in their respective websites. The same shall also be provided in the website of the listed company and also in the stock exchange(s) in which it is listed. RTA shall arrange to update the same forthwith, as and when there is a change.

2.13. All objections by RTA in once instance

While processing complaints or service request, the RTAs shall raise all objections, if any / at all, in one instance only; the additional information may be sought only in case of any deficiency / discrepancy in the documents / details furnished by the holder.

3. Electronic interface for processing queries, complaints and service request

3.1.In addition to responding to queries, complaints and service request through hard copies, the RTA shall also process the same received through e-mails, provided that it is received from the e-mail address of the holder which is already registered with the RTA. Additionally, in the case of service requests, the documents furnished shall have e-sign of the holder(s) / claimant(s)

3.2. Through service portal of the RTA

In case the RTA is offering on-line processing of service request thought its portal, then the holder may submit his / her request or complaint through this portal, using appropriate credential for login and password. The scanned copies of the documents furnished shall have e-sign.

The RTA shall also use the electronic / on-line mode for communicating with the holder / claimant for speedier processing.

4. Mandatory furnishing of PAN, KYC details and Nomination by holders of physical securities

4.1.It shall be mandatory for all holders of physical securities in listed company to furnish the following documents / details to the RTA;

a) PAN

b) Nomination (for all eligible folios)

Details of nomination details shall be furnished hard copy or through electronic mode with e-signature, separately for each company, as follows;

i. Either,

• Nomination through Form SH-13 as provided in the Rules 19 (1) of Companies (Shares capital and debenture) Rules, 2014 or

• ‘Declaration to Opt-out’, as per Form ISR-3

ii. In case of cancellation of nomination by the holder(s) through Form SH- 14, then ‘Declaration to Opt-out’ shall be provided by the holder(s)

iii. Securities holder(s) can change their nominee through Form SH-14

Listed companies, RTAs and Stock Exchanges shall make available these three forms in their respective websites.

c) Contact details Postal address with PIN, Mobile number, E-mail address RTA shall obtain the folio number from the mobile number and E-mail address provided by the holder, so as to validate the same.

d) Bank account details (bank name and branch, bank account number, IFS code)

Upon receipt or up-dation of bank details, the RTA shall suo-moto, pay electronically, all the moneys of / payments to the holder that were previous unclaimed / unsuccessful.

e) Specimen signature

4.2.From the date of issue of this circular, RTAs shall obtain documents / details of PAN, KYC details and Nomination, wherever, the same is not available in the folio, while processing any service requests or complaint from the holder(s) /claimant(s).

5. Freezing of Folios without PAN, KYC details and Nomination

5.1.The folios wherein any one of the cited document / details are not available on or after April 01, 2023, shall be frozen by the RTA.

5.2.The securities in the frozen folios shall be a) eligible to lodge grievance or avail service request from the RTA only after furnishing the complete documents / details as aforesaid b) eligible for any payment including dividend, interest or redemption payment only through electronic mode and an intimation from the RTA to the holder that the aforesaid such payment is due and shall be made electronically upon complying with the requirements in paragraph 4 above. c) referred by the RTA / listed company to the administering authority under the Benami Transactions (Prohibitions) Act, 1988 and or Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, if they continue to remain frozen as on December 31, 2025.
5.3. The RTA shall revert the frozen folios to normal status upon
a) receipt of all the aforesaid documents / details at paragraph 4 above or b) dematerialization of all the securities in such folios

6. Compulsory linking of PAN and Aadhaar by all holders of physical securities in listed companies

6.1.The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), vide Notification S.O. 3814(E) dated September 17, 2021, has extended the date for linking PAN with Aadhaar number to March 31, 2022. SEBI issued Press Release dated September 03, 2021, advising

a) intermediaries to accept only valid PANs from this aforesaid date, while opening new accounts

b) existing investors to link their PAN with their Aadhaar number by the date specified by CBDT.

6.2.Accordingly, from March 31, 2022 or any other date as may be specified by the CBDT, RTAs shall

c) accept only valid PANs and

d) also verify that the PAN in the existing folios are valid; i.e. whether it is linked to the Aadhaar number of the holder.

In this regard, the RTAs may use of the PBV facility from the service providers of ITD.

6.3.The folios in which PANs is / are not valid as on the notified cut-off date of March, 31, 2022 or any other date as may be specified by the CBDT, shall also be frozen, as detailed in paragraph 5 above.

7. Intimation to securities holders

Listed companies, RTAs and Stock Exchanges shall disseminate the requirement of the holders of physical securities of all listed companies to furnish valid PAN, KYC details and Nomination, on their respective websites. Listed companies shall also directly intimate its securities holders about folios which are incomplete viz. the aforesaid requirement.

8. This circular shall come into effect from January 01, 2022 and its provisions shall supersede provisions of previous circulars of SEBI in this regard.

9. RTAs shall provide a certificate of compliance from a practicing Company Secretary, within 45 days of this circular, certifying the changes carried out, systems put in place / new operating procedures implemented etc. to comply with the provisions of this circular.

10.Depositories are advised to take necessary steps to;

10.1. implement the provisions of this circular / make necessary amendment(s) to the relevant bye-laws / business rules / regulations / operational instructions, as the case may be,

10.2. bring the provisions of this circular to the notice of their constituents and

10.3. disseminate this circular on their websites.

11.The Stock Exchanges are advised to;

11.1. comply with the relevant portion(s) of this circular applicable to them,

11.2. bring the provisions of this circular to the notice of listed companies and

11.3. disseminate the same on their websites.

12.This circular is issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, read with Regulation 101 of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosures Regulations) 2015, to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities markets.

This circular is available on SEBI website at www.sebi.gov.in.

Yours faithfully,
Manjesh Roy S.
General Manager
Tel. no: 022 – 2644 9710 & 4045 9710
Email id: manjeshsr@sebi.gov.in