Date: 2025-04-01Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Clarification on the position of Compliance Officer in terms of regulation 6 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015
**Summary:**
SEBI Circular SEBI/HOCFD/PoD/2/CIR/P/2025/47, dated April 1, 2025, clarifies the position of the Compliance Officer as outlined in Regulation 6 of the SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) Regulations, 2015. Specifically, it addresses queries regarding the interpretation of "level" in Regulation 6(1), which stipulates that the Compliance Officer must be in whole-time employment, no more than one level below the Board of Directors, and designated as a Key Managerial Personnel.
The circular clarifies that "level" refers to the Compliance Officer's position in the organizational structure. Therefore, one level below the Board means one level below the Managing Director or Whole-Time Directors who are members of the Board. In the absence of a Managing Director or Whole-Time Director, the Compliance Officer should be no more than one level below the Chief Executive Officer, Manager, or the person heading the day-to-day affairs of the listed entity.
This clarification is issued under Section 11(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, read with Regulation 101 of the LODR Regulations. The circular is available on the SEBI website under Legal/Circulars. For further information, contact Raj Kumar Das, Deputy General Manager, Corporation Finance Department, Policy and Development, at 91-22-26449253 or rajkd@sebi.gov.in.
Key Entities Referenced
SEBI: The Securities and Exchange Board of India, a regulatory body in India.
SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015: A set of regulations by SEBI governing the listing obligations and disclosure requirements for listed entities.
LODR Regulations: An abbreviation referring to the SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations.
Compliance Officer: An individual responsible for ensuring that an organization complies with relevant laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. As per the circular, clarification sought on the position of Compliance Officer.
SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Third Amendment Regulations, 2024: Amendment to SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations
Companies Act, 2013: An Act of the Parliament of India that regulates Indian companies.
Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992: An act of the Parliament of India to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market.
All Recognized Stock Exchanges: All stock exchanges in India that are recognized by SEBI.
CIRCULAR
SEBI/HO/CFD/PoD2/CIR/P/2025/47 April 1, 2025
To,
All listed entities
All Recognized Stock Exchanges
Madam / Sir,
Sub: Clarification on the position of Compliance Officer in terms of regulation 6 of
the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations,
2015 – Reg.
1. The proviso to regulation 6(1) of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements)
Regulations, 2015 (“LODR Regulations”) inter-alia requires the Compliance Officer of a
listed entity to be in whole-time employment of the listed entity, not more than one level below
the board of directors, and designated as a Key Managerial Personnel. The said provision
was inserted vide SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) (Third
Amendment Regulations), 2024 dated December 12, 2024 (link).
2. SEBI has received queries seeking clarity on the term ‘level’ used in regulation 6(1) of the
LODR Regulations.
3. After examination, it is clarified that the term ‘level’ used in regulation 6(1) refers to the
position of the Compliance Officer in the organization structure of the listed entity. Therefore,
‘one-level below the board of directors’ means one-level below the Managing Director or
Whole-time Director(s) who are part of the Board of Directors of the listed entity. This will be
in line with regulation 2(1)(o) of the LODR Regulations read with section 2(51) of the
Companies Act, 2013.
4. In case a listed entity does not have a Managing Director or a Whole-Time Director, then the
Compliance Officer shall not be more than one-level below the Chief Executive Officer or
Manager or any other person heading the day-to-day affairs of the listed entity.
Page 1 of 25. The Circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the
Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 read with Regulation 101 of the LODR
Regulations.
6. This Circular is available at www.sebi.gov.in under the link “LegalCirculars”.
Yours faithfully,
Raj Kumar Das
Deputy General Manager
Corporation Finance Department
Policy and Development
+91-22-26449253
rajkd@sebi.gov.in
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