2025 (11) TMI 205 - SCH - SEBI

Rs 5,000 crore transfer from Sahara-SEBI refund account approved for disbursement to genuine investors under prior procedure

SC allowed the application and directed transfer of Rs.5,000 crores from the Sahara-SEBI Refund Account to the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies ... Payoff/disbursement of legitimate dues of the depositors of the Sahara Group of Cooperative Societies - HELD THAT:- Respondent on instructions from SEBI, states that SEBI too has no objection against the release of sum of Rs.5,000 crores for disbursement to the investors as per the procedure already laid down by this Court vide order dated 29.03.2023. Consequently and for the reasons mentioned in the application and the circumstances explained by them, we allow this application and direct that a sum of Rs.5000 crores be transferred from the “Sahara-SEBI Refund Account” to the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies. The needful shall be done within one week. Upon receipt of that amount, the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies shall disburse the amount to genuine investors under the supervision of Mr. Justice R. Subhash Reddy, a former Judge of this Court and in the manner, as has already been directed by this Court vide order dated 29.03.2023. Having regard to the nature of the exercise being undertaken by the disbursing authority, Justice R. Subhash Reddy, and Mr. Gaurav Agarwal, learned Amicus Curiae, we further extend time till 31.12.2026 for disbursal of the remaining amount released earlier as well as the amount ordered to be released today. ISSUES PRESENTED AND CONSIDERED 1. Whether the Court should direct release of an additional sum of Rs.5,000 crores from the corpus held in the refund account for disbursal to genuine depositors under the previously prescribed procedure. 2. Whether disbursement may continue to be supervised by the previously appointed supervising former Judge and assisted Amicus Curiae, and whether payments may be made pursuant to the established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and web-portal claim process. 3. Whether the timeline for completion of the disbursal process should be extended beyond the earlier prescribed deadline in light of practical difficulties, accrual of interest on the released sum, and the volume and stage of pending claims. ISSUE-WISE DETAILED ANALYSIS Issue 1 - Authority to order further transfer of funds for disbursement to genuine depositors Legal framework: The Court exercises supervisory jurisdiction in respect of funds deposited pursuant to its earlier directions and may order appropriation and transfer of funds held in court-controlled or court-mandated accounts for the purpose of giving effect to earlier relief and ensuring restitution to claimants. Precedent Treatment: No external precedent was invoked or relied upon in the application; the order is founded on the Court's prior direction creating the refund corpus and its continuing supervisory control over the disbursal process. Interpretation and reasoning: The Court accepted factual material showing (a) substantial amounts lying in the refund account, (b) a large number of identified investors with quantified claims, (c) an extant, functioning mechanism (web portals and SOPs) for claim identification and verification, and (d) prior partial disbursals from an earlier tranche. The respondents with regulatory interest (the relevant market regulator) raised no objection to the proposed transfer. In these circumstances the Court found it appropriate and necessary to release an additional tranche to facilitate timely refunds to genuine depositors in accordance with earlier directions. Ratio vs. Obiter: Ratio - the Court's decision to authorize transfer of funds from the refund account where (i) funds are held pursuant to prior court directions, (ii) a transparent mechanism for identification and disbursal exists, and (iii) the regulator raises no objection. Obiter - peripheral references to amounts claimed, expected future claimants, and accrued interest as contextual factors supporting the exercise of discretion. Conclusion: The Court directed transfer of Rs.5,000 crores from the refund account to the designated disbursing authority for distribution to genuine depositors under the previously prescribed procedure, to be effected within one week. Issue 2 - Supervision, assistance and adherence to SOP/web-portal processes for disbursal Legal framework: Where the Court delegates implementation of a remedial scheme, it may stipulate supervisory oversight, appointment of assisting officers or counsel, and adherence to transparent procedures to ensure fairness, correct identification of beneficiaries, and accountability. Precedent Treatment: The Court relied on its own prior direction appointing supervisory and assisting officers and laying down the SOP/web-portal methodology; no contrary authority was cited. Interpretation and reasoning: The Court evaluated the description of the implemented processes (web portals, SOPs for identification/verification/disbursal), the supervisory framework already in place, and confirmations regarding compliance. Given the nature of the exercise - large number of small-value claims requiring identification and transparency - continued supervision by the previously appointed supervising former Judge and assistance by the Amicus Curiae was considered necessary to maintain integrity and public confidence in the disbursal exercise. Ratio vs. Obiter: Ratio - authorization of continued supervision by the previously appointed supervising former Judge and Amicus Curiae and requirement that disbursal follow the Court-approved SOPs/web-portal process. Obiter - observations on the reasonableness of honoraria previously fixed for supervising officers (mentioned in earlier order but not reopened). Conclusion: The disbursing authority shall disburse the newly released funds to genuine investors under supervision of the designated supervising former Judge and in accordance with the Court's prior directions and SOPs, with monitoring to ensure transparent and direct credit to beneficiaries' bank accounts upon proof of claims. Issue 3 - Extension of time for completion of disbursal Legal framework: Courts may extend timelines for compliance with earlier directions where exigent or practical circumstances make the original deadline impossible to meet, provided the extension furthers the remedial purpose and accountability is maintained. Precedent Treatment: The application invoked factual developments (volume of claims, stages of scrutiny, accrual of interest, previously granted extension) rather than judicial precedents; the Court exercised its supervisory discretion rooted in the earlier order. Interpretation and reasoning: The Court considered the inability to complete disbursal within the initial nine-month period, the grant of an earlier extension, the scale of pending and anticipated claims (millions of investors), the operational realities of portal-based verification and due diligence, and the accrual of interest on funds already released. Balancing the need for expedient restitution against the requirement of accurate identification of genuine depositors, the Court found an extension warranted to permit completion without compromising the integrity of the process. Ratio vs. Obiter: Ratio - extension of the disbursal deadline is justified where practical obstacles and large volume of pending claims render prior timelines unworkable, provided supervisory safeguards and previously prescribed procedures remain in force. Obiter - projection of expected future claimants as a basis for estimating the extension period. Conclusion: Time for completion of disbursal of the earlier released amount as well as the amount ordered to be released is extended to 31.12.2026. Ancillary findings No objection was recorded from the market regulator to the transfer; interest had accrued on earlier released funds and was noted by the Court; the Court directed prompt compliance (one week) for the transfer and retained supervisory monitoring of the disbursal process.