Executive Summary:
SEBI issues a circular to provide a special window for relodgement of transfer requests of physical shares that were lodged before April 1, 2019, and rejected due to deficiencies. This decision follows representations from investors and recommendations from a Panel of Experts. The window will be open for six months, from July 7, 2025, to January 6, 2026, and all transfers during this period must be in demat mode.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Background:**
* Transfer of securities in physical mode was discontinued from April 1, 2019.
* A previous cutoff date for relodgement of transfer deeds was March 31, 2021.
* **Special Window for Relodgement:**
* A special window is opened for relodgement of transfer deeds lodged before April 1, 2019, and rejected due to deficiencies.
* The window is open from July 7, 2025, to January 6, 2026.
* All securities relodged during this period will be issued in demat mode only.
* **Publicity and Reporting:**
* Listed companies, RTAs, and Stock Exchanges must publicize the special window bi-monthly through various media.
* RTAs and listed companies shall have focused teams to handle these requests.
* RTAs and listed companies must provide monthly reports on publicity and shares relodged for transfer cum demat in a specified format.
* **Authority:**
* The circular is issued under Section 11(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, and other relevant regulations.
Impact Analysis:
* **Investors:**
* *Impact:* Provides an opportunity to relodge rejected transfer requests and secure their rights in purchased securities.
* *Action Required:* Relodge transfer deeds during the special window period (July 7, 2025 to January 6, 2026) and ensure dematerialization of shares.
* **Registered Registrar & Share Transfer Agents (RTAs) and Listed Companies:**
* *Impact:* Requires them to facilitate the relodgement process and ensure dematerialization.
* *Action Required:* Publicize the special window, establish focused teams, process transfer-cum-demat requests, and submit monthly reports to SEBI.
* **Recognized Stock Exchanges:**
* *Impact:* Need to support the initiative through publicity.
* *Action Required:* Publicize the opening of the special window.
Key Entities Referenced
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI): Regulatory body for the securities market in India. The circular is issued by SEBI.
Registered Registrar Share Transfer Agents (RTA): Entities registered with SEBI that handle share transfers.
Recognised Stock Exchanges: Stock exchanges recognized by SEBI.
Listed Companies: Companies listed on the stock exchanges.
Ease of Doing Investment Special Window for Relodgement of Transfer Requests of Physical Shares: A special initiative to allow investors to relodge transfer requests for physical shares that were previously rejected.
Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992: The act under which SEBI derives its powers.
SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015: Regulations pertaining to the obligations and disclosures required of listed entities.
SEBI Registrars to an Issue and Share Transfer Agents Regulations, 1993: Regulations related to the registration and operations of registrars and share transfer agents.
CIRCULAR
SEBI/HO/MIRSD/MIRSD-PoD/P/CIR/2025/97 July 02, 2025
To,
All Registered Registrar & Share Transfer Agents (RTA)
All Recognised Stock Exchanges
All Listed Companies (through Stock Exchanges)
Madam / Sir,
Sub: Ease of Doing Investment – Special Window for Re-lodgement of Transfer
Requests of Physical Shares
1. Transfer of securities in physical mode was discontinued with effect from April 01,
2019. Subsequently, it was clarified that transfer deeds lodged prior to deadline of
April 01, 2019 and rejected/returned due to deficiency in the documents may be
re-lodged with requisite documents. It was further decided to fix March 31, 2021 as
the cut-off date for re-lodgement of transfer deeds.
2. SEBI received representation from investors as well as RTAs and listed companies
that some of the investors had missed the timelines for re-lodging their documents
for transfer of securities. This issue was discussed in a Panel of Experts which
included RTAs, listed companies and Legal Expert. Based on discussion, the Panel
recommended that to alleviate the issue faced by the investors that missed the
March 31, 2021 deadline for re-lodgement, one more opportunity may be granted
for them to re-lodge such shares for transfer.
3. Thus, in order to facilitate ease of investing for investors and to secure the rights
of investors in the securities which were purchased by them, it has been decided
to open a special window only for re-lodgement of transfer deeds, which were
lodged prior to the deadline of April 01, 2019 and rejected/returned/not attended to
Page 1 of 3due to deficiency in the documents/process/or otherwise, for a period of six months
from July 07, 2025 till January 06, 2026.
4. During this period, the securities that are re-lodged for transfer (including those
requests that are pending with the listed company / RTA, as on date) shall be
issued only in demat mode. Due process shall be followed for such transfer-cum-
demat requests.
5. Listed companies, RTAs and Stock Exchanges shall publicize the opening of this
special window through various media including print and social media, on a bi-
monthly basis during the six-month period.
6. RTAs/listed companies shall have focussed teams to attend to such requests.
7. RTAs/listed companies shall provide reports on:
7.1 publicity; and
7.2 shares re-lodged for transfer cum demat in the format specified by SEBI
(provided at Annexure-A) on monthly basis.
8. This circular is being issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11 (1)
of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, read with regulation 102
of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015
and SEBI (Registrars to an Issue and Share Transfer Agents) Regulations, 1993
to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development
of, and to regulate the securities market.
9. This circular is available on SEBI website at www.sebi.gov.in under the
category: ‘Legal → Circulars’.
Yours faithfully,
Sanjukta Mahala
Deputy General Manager
Tel. No. 022-26449288
E-mail: sanjuktam@sebi.gov.in
Page 2 of 3Annexure-A
No. of No. of No. of No. of Average
requests requests requests requests time taken
received processed approved rejected for
during the during the processing
month month of requests
(in days)
Page 3 of 3