SEBI proposes changes to consent settlement rules

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's capital markets regulator has proposed changes to the country's consent settlement rules, according to a review panel report, as it tries to reduce recourse to the courts and make it easier to do business in Asia's third largest economy.

Under consent proceedings, parties involved in disputes with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) can settle them without admission of guilt.

It is also a speedy alternate arrangement that ensures financial markets function uninterrupted without the delays typical of courtroom battles.

A report by a SEBI review panel proposed a number of changes to the current framework, including broadening the ambit of securities laws and increasing the settlement amount if an application is filed after 60 days.

The panel, headed by a former Supreme Court judge, recommended that companies should be barred from re-applying for resolution of the same dispute if their first application is rejected.

The system could also be used in cases of alleged serious fraud - including insider trading, front-running and mis-statements in offer documents - depending on the merits of each case, the panel said.

"Courts, tribunals and adjudicatory authorities have to be spared from adjudicating on issues which could be resolved by facilitating a settlement process which would go a long way in ensuring speedy and efficient resolution of disputes," the panel said in a document made public on Monday.

The need for revisions arose because part of the existing regulations were seen as discouraging the "settlement of certain matters deemed to be too important", and because there was no clear guidance for dealing with certain types of cases, the panel said.

The SEBI has sought public comment on the proposed changes by Sept. 1.

(Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal and Abhirup Roy; Editing by Adrian Croft)