Introduction
The Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act of 1956, commonly known as SC(R)A, is one of the oldest financial laws in India. It was made at a time when our country had just become independent and needed proper rules for trading in the stock markets. Before SEBI was born in 1992, this Act was the main law that controlled how stock exchanges worked in India. Even though it is an old law, it remains very important today as it forms the base on which newer laws are built.
The SC(R)A was not always as we see it today. Over the years, especially after SEBI came into existence, the government made many changes to make it work better with SEBI’s rules. These changes helped create a stronger system for regulating the stock markets in India. This article will look at the main parts of the SC(R)A, famous court cases related to it, and how it has changed over time.
Historical Background and Evolution the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act
The SC(R)A was passed in 1956 when stock trading in India was still very basic compared to today. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which started in 1875, was already there but needed proper rules to function well. The main goal of making this law was to stop bad practices in stock trading and make sure that buying and selling of shares was done in a fair way.
For many years, the Central Government directly controlled the stock exchanges through this Act. But after economic reforms started in 1991 and SEBI was given statutory powers in 1992, many responsibilities under SC(R)A were given to SEBI. The Securities Laws (Amendment) Act of 1995 was a big step that transferred most powers from the government to SEBI.
Dr. L.C. Gupta, a famous expert on financial markets, once said: “The SC(R)A of 1956 laid the foundation on which the entire structure of India’s securities market regulation stands today. Without this law, creating an orderly securities market would have been impossible.”
Key Provisions of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956
Recognition of Stock Exchanges (Section 4)
Section 4 of the SC(R)A gives the government (now SEBI) the power to recognize stock exchanges. This section states: “If the Central Government (now SEBI) is satisfied, after making such inquiry as may be necessary in this behalf and after obtaining such further information, if any, as it may require, that it would be in the interest of the trade and also in the public interest to grant recognition to the stock exchange, it may grant recognition to the stock exchange subject to such conditions as may be prescribed or specified.”
This means no stock exchange can operate in India without first getting approval from SEBI. To get this approval, the exchange must follow certain rules about how it works, who can become members, and how trading should be done.
Powers to Control and Regulate Stock Exchanges (Section 5)
Section 5 gives SEBI broad powers to control how stock exchanges function. As per this section, “It shall be the duty of recognised stock exchanges to comply with such directions.” These directions can include changes to the rules of the exchange, how trading should happen, and what information should be given to investors.
For example, SEBI can ask exchanges to change their bye-laws, which are the internal rules of the exchange. These bye-laws cover things like:
- Who can become a broker
- How trades should be settled
- What happens if someone doesn’t complete a trade
- How disputes between members are solved
Regulation of Contracts in Securities (Section 13)
Section 13 is about controlling what kinds of contracts can be made for buying and selling securities. It says that the Central Government (now SEBI) can declare certain types of contracts as illegal or void. This helps prevent gambling-like activities in the stock market.
The actual text of Section 13(1) states: “The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that no person in the notified area shall, save with the permission of the Central Government, enter into any contract for the sale or purchase of any security specified in the notification except in such circumstances and in such manner as may be specified in the notification.”
This section has been very important in controlling derivatives trading in India. For many years, most derivatives were not allowed in Indian markets because of this section, until SEBI gradually introduced stock futures, options, and index derivatives in a controlled way.
Listing Requirements for Securities (Section 21)
Section 21 deals with the requirements for listing securities (like shares or bonds) on stock exchanges. Listing means that a company’s shares can be bought and sold on a stock exchange. This section says that companies must meet certain requirements before their shares can be listed.
The section specifically states: “Where securities are listed on the application of any person in any recognised stock exchange, such person shall comply with the conditions of the listing agreement with that stock exchange.”
This listing agreement has several important requirements, such as:
- Regular sharing of financial information
- Informing the public about major changes in the company
- Following good corporate governance practices
- Treating all shareholders fairly
Delisting of Securities (Section 21A)
Section 21A, which was added later to the original Act, deals with removing securities from stock exchanges. This is called delisting. The section provides for both voluntary delisting (when a company itself wants to remove its shares from trading) and compulsory delisting (when the exchange forces a company to delist because it broke the rules).
The section states: “A recognised stock exchange may delist the securities, after recording the reasons therefor, from any recognised stock exchange on any of the grounds as may be prescribed under this Act.”
Delisting is a serious matter because it means small investors might not be able to easily sell their shares. That’s why the law includes special protections for investors in such cases.
Landmark Court Cases on the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act
Jermyn Capital LLC v. SEBI (2006) SAT Appeal No. 140/2006
This important case was about who can register as a broker in India. Jermyn Capital, a foreign company, applied for registration as a stock broker but was denied by SEBI. When they appealed to the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), the tribunal had to decide on the scope of SEBI’s powers under the SC(R)A for broker registration.
The SAT ruled: “The powers conferred on SEBI under Section 12 of the SEBI Act read with SC(R)A provisions for registration of intermediaries are wide but not unlimited. SEBI must exercise this discretion reasonably and not arbitrarily.”
This case helped define the limits of SEBI’s powers and established that even though SEBI has wide powers, it must use them fairly and provide proper reasons for its decisions.
BSE Brokers Forum v. SEBI (2001) 3 SCC 482
This case went all the way to the Supreme Court and was about SEBI’s power to change the bye-laws of stock exchanges. The BSE Brokers Forum challenged SEBI’s authority to directly amend the bye-laws of the Bombay Stock Exchange without the exchange itself making those changes.
The Supreme Court upheld SEBI’s powers and stated: “SEBI has the authority to direct stock exchanges to amend their bye-laws, and if they fail to do so within a reasonable time, SEBI can itself make those amendments. This power is essential for effective regulation of securities markets in public interest.”
This judgment was very important as it confirmed that SEBI has strong powers to control how stock exchanges work, even if the exchanges themselves don’t agree with the changes.
MCX-SX v. SEBI (2012) SAT Appeal No. 47/2012
This was a high-profile case about SEBI’s discretionary powers in recognizing new stock exchanges. MCX-SX, which wanted to expand from being a commodity derivatives exchange to a full-fledged stock exchange, was denied permission by SEBI. They appealed to the SAT.
The SAT overturned SEBI’s decision and ruled: “SEBI’s discretionary powers under Section 4 of SC(R)A for recognizing stock exchanges are not absolute and must be exercised objectively based on criteria laid down in the law. SEBI cannot deny recognition if the applicant meets all the statutory requirements.”
The tribunal also noted: “While SEBI has wide discretionary powers, these powers must be exercised in a transparent and non-arbitrary manner. The regulator must provide clear and valid reasons if it chooses to deny recognition to an applicant that has met all the specified criteria.”
NuPower Renewables v. SEBI (2023) SAT Appeal
This recent case examined disclosure requirements under the SC(R)A and related regulations. NuPower Renewables challenged SEBI’s order regarding inadequate disclosures in a listed company’s filings. The case is significant because it deals with modern corporate governance standards.
The SAT observed: “The disclosure requirements under Section 21 of SC(R)A read with LODR Regulations must be interpreted keeping in mind the objective of ensuring that investors have access to all material information that might affect their investment decisions. Technical compliance alone is not enough if the substance of the disclosure requirements is not met.”
This case shows how the old SC(R)A continues to be relevant in today’s complex corporate environment and works together with newer regulations like the LODR.
Impact of SC(R)A on Market Infrastructure Development
The SC(R)A has played a crucial role in developing India’s market infrastructure. One of the biggest changes it supported was the move from open outcry trading (where brokers shouted and used hand signals on the trading floor) to electronic trading systems.
This transformation happened in the 1990s when the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was established as India’s first electronic stock exchange. The legal framework for this change came from the SC(R)A, which was amended to recognize and regulate electronic trading. This shift made trading more transparent, efficient, and accessible to people across India, not just in big cities where physical exchanges existed.
The Act also provided the legal foundation for many other improvements in market infrastructure:
- The development of clearing corporations that guarantee trade settlements
- The introduction of rolling settlement systems instead of account period settlements
- The establishment of investor protection funds
- The creation of market-wide circuit breakers to prevent excessive volatility
Integration with SEBI Act and Other Regulations
The SC(R)A doesn’t work alone. It works together with the SEBI Act and many regulations that SEBI has made over the years. For example, the provisions in Section 21 of SC(R)A about listing requirements are now implemented through SEBI’s Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) Regulations.
Similarly, while SC(R)A Section 13 gives basic powers to regulate contracts in securities, the detailed rules for derivatives trading come from SEBI regulations. This integration ensures that there is a complete regulatory framework covering all aspects of securities markets.
Former SEBI Chairman U.K. Sinha explained this relationship well: “The SC(R)A provides the foundational legal authority, while SEBI regulations provide the operational details. Together, they create a comprehensive regulatory framework for India’s securities markets.”
Challenges and Future Outlook for the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956
Despite its importance, the SC(R)A faces several challenges in today’s rapidly changing financial world:
- The Act was written in a time when technology was much simpler, so it sometimes struggles to address issues related to algorithmic trading, high-frequency trading, and other technology-driven changes.
- The global nature of financial markets means that Indian regulations, including the SC(R)A, need to be in line with international standards, which is an ongoing process.
- New types of assets like digital tokens and cryptocurrencies don’t easily fit into the traditional definitions of “securities” under the SC(R)A.
To address these challenges, experts suggest that while the basic structure of the SC(R)A should be preserved, it needs to be updated regularly to keep up with market developments. The government and SEBI have been doing this through amendments and new regulations.
Conclusion
The Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 remains the cornerstone of securities market regulation in India. Even after almost 70 years, its basic principles continue to guide how stock exchanges are recognized and regulated, how securities are listed and traded, and how investor interests are protected.
The Act’s endurance speaks to the wisdom of its drafters, who created a framework flexible enough to adapt to changing times. From the physical trading floors of the 1950s to today’s high-speed electronic markets, the SC(R)A has provided the legal foundation that keeps India’s markets fair, efficient, and trustworthy.
As we look to the future, the The Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 will undoubtedly continue to evolve, but its core purpose of ensuring well-regulated, transparent securities markets will remain as important as ever. In the words of former SEBI Chairman C.B. Bhave: “The SC(R)A may be old in years, but its principles are timeless. Well-functioning markets need clear rules, and that’s what this Act provides.”
