How Sebi's new dispute redressal mechanism empowers investors

The online platform aims to make arbitration cost-efficient, less time-consuming for wider set of investors.

- Jash Kriplani

ODR, according to experts, will help investors initiate mediation and arbitration proceedings against various intermediaries. Till now, investors could settle their disputes at IGRC, but this was possible only against a limited set of intermediaries.“ODR can make arbitration and mediation less time-consuming and more cost-effective, as there is now an online mechanism available that allows seeking arbitration against a number of intermediaries," says Sandeep Parekh, managing partner of Finsec Law Advisors.

Why ODR?

SCORES, which is largely used by investors seeking redressal of complaints against stock brokers, is a comprehensive redressal system, which allows investors to escalate their complaint (see graphic) in a time-bound manner. In the final stage, the complaint is reviewed directly by Sebi and an investor who is not satisfied by Sebi’s review can now opt for ODR.

Earlier, the IGRC resolved disputes between stock brokers, depository participants, commodity brokers and their clients. Last year, Sebi expanded this list to include listed companies and registrar & share transfer agents (RTAs). ODR widens the ambit of intermediaries.

As Sebi’s recent consultation paper on ODR points out, the existing dispute resolution process under this framework is “largely a physical process making it relatively costly, time-consuming". To be sure, most of IGRC’s mediation proceedings had moved online during the pandemic. This is set to continue under ODR.