Introduction of Online Dispute Resolution Portal (ODR Portal) in the Indian Securities Market

Securities and Exchange Board of India ('SEBI') vide circular no. SEBI/HO/OIAE/OIAE_IAD1/P/CIR/2023/131 dated July 31, 2023 provided guidelines for online resolution of disputes in the Indian securities market through establishment of a common ODR Portal which harnesses online conciliation and online arbitration for resolution of disputes arising between investors/clients and Listed Companies or specified intermediaries/regulated entities in the Securities Market.

SEBI vide circular no. SEBI/HO/OIAE/OIAE_IAD-1/P/CIR/2023/135 dated August 4, 2023 further clarified that the investor shall first take up his/her/their grievance with the Market Participant (Listed Companies, specified intermediaries, regulated entities) by lodging a complaint directly with the concerned Market Participant. If the grievance is not redressed satisfactorily, the investor may, escalate the same through the SCORES Portal https://scores.sebi.gov.in/. After exhausting the above options, if the investor is not satisfied with the outcome, he/she/they can initiate dispute resolution through the ODR Portal.

The complete Master Circular for Online Dispute Resolution, issued by SEBI, can be accessed   HERE

The ODR Portal named "SMART ODR" can be accessed through the URL: https://smartodr.in/login.