Erring firms convicted, but it's not mission accomplished for regulators

Majority of prosecutions for various violations successful for the first time in over a decade

Regulatory authorities have improved their record in bringing errant companies to task in recent times.

The conviction rate is at its highest in years, shows a Business Standard analysis of ministry of corporate affairs data, amid reports of a rejig in its approach to infractions. Around 5.3 per cent of cases decided upon resulted in convictions in 2018-19. The number increased to 53.6 percent in 2021-22 to touch a 14-year high.

The ministry is planning to free up resources at the Registrar of Companies (RoC), which is in charge of the registration, regulation and striking-off of companies, to focus on