REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5677 of 2017 DUSHYANT N. DALAL AND ANOTHER APPELLANTS VERSUS SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA RESPONDENT WITH CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 10410-10412 of 2017 JUDGMENT
[ENTITY], J.
1. The present appeals raise an interesting question under [SECTION] of the [ENTITY] Act, 1992 ([ACT]), namely, as to whether interest can be recovered on orders of penalty issued under the Act and/or orders of disgorgement of unlawful gains, when the said amounts have remained unpaid. In the penalty cases, it is SEBI who is before us as appellant, whereas in the disgorgement case, it is private individuals who are before us.
2. First, the facts in [CASE NUMBER], the disgorgement case. By an order dated 21.7.2009, passed by a whole-time member of SEBI, the noticees, namely Shri [ENTITY] and Mrs. [ENTITY], were found to have manipulated the demand for shares in the retail individual investor category (RII) and thereby distorted the integrity of the market. By doing this, they denied other RIIs of allotment of their legitimate shares in initial public offers (IPOs) of various companies and made an unlawful gain of Rs.4,05,61,579/- to the detriment of other RIIs. The conclusion, therefore, was that they had employed fraudulent, deceptive and manipulative practices to garner shares meant for RIIs in the aforesaid IPOs and hence violated [SECTION] of the [ACT], and [SECTION] and [SECTION] of the [ENTITY] (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices Relating to Securities Markets) Regulations, 2003 ([ACT]). Given this, the following directions were issued:
a) The noticees [Mr. [ENTITY] (PAN AAAPD 5859Q) and Mrs. [ENTITY] (PAN AAEPD 2909B)] shall not buy, sell or deal in the securities market in any manner whatsoever or access the securities market, directly or indirectly, for a period of 45 days from the date of this order; and
b) The noticees shall disgorge the unlawful gain of Rs.4.05 crores (rounded off from Rs. 4,05,61,579).
c) The noticees shall also pay Rs.1.95 crores (rounded off from R[SECTION],94,69,558), being the simple interest at the rate of 12% per annum for 4 years (2005-09) on the unlawful gain Rs. 4,05,61,579.
d) The noticees shall pay the above amount of Rs.6 crores (Rupees six crores) within 45 (forty five) days from the date of this order by way of crossed demand draft drawn in favour of [ENTITY], payable at Mumbai.
e) In case the aforesaid amount Rs.6 crores is not paid within the specified time, the noticees shall be restrained from buying, selling or dealing in securities market in any manner whatsoever or accessing the securities market, directly or indirectly, for a further period of seven years, without prejudice to SEBIs right to enforce disgorgement. An appeal from this order was dismissed by the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) on 12.11.2010. An appeal from the order of the SAT to this Court met with the same fate on 21.2.2011.
3. By a notice of demand dated 25.9.2013, Rs. 6 crores, along with interest payable within 15 days of the receipt of the notice, was demanded, failing which recovery was to be made under [SECTION] of the [ACT]. By a second demand notice dated 12.12.2013, stated to be in continuation of the first demand notice, interest was demanded at 13% per annum from 21.7.2009 upto 12.12.2013 amounting to Rs.2,13,30,000/-. The appellants before us replied to the aforesaid notices of demand by a letter dated 13.1.2014, stating that the said amount of interest was not payable in law. This was turned down by an order dated 16.1.2014, passed by the Recovery Officer, SEBI, in which the objections of the appellants were rejected and bank accounts of the appellants were attached. By an interim order dated 6.9.2016, the SAT noticed that the appellants had already undergone the full debarment period and hence, attachment levied on their demat accounts, except account No.40333429, was released. By the impugned judgment dated 10.3.2017, the SAT ultimately found that, with effect from 18.7.2013, [SECTION] read with [SECTION] of the [ACT] empowered SEBI to collect interest, but that so far as the appellants were concerned, it was held that interest payable by the appellants could not be quantified at the time of passing the order dated 21.7.2009 and, therefore, it was held:
In [CASE NUMBER] the directions given by the WTM of SEBI on 21.07.2009 was to disgorge the unlawful gain of Rs. 4.05 crores with interest @ 12% per annum quantified at R[SECTION].95 crores up to 21.07.2009 within 45 days from 21.07.2009 failing which, the appellants were debarred from entering the Securities market for a period of 7 years without prejudice to the right of SEBI to recover the unlawful gain with interest till payment. Since the order passed by the WTM of SEBI on 21.07.2009 contained an obligation to pay interest @ 12% per annum on the unlawful gain of Rs. 4.05 crores till payment, the RO was justified in demanding interest on the unlawful gain of Rs. 4.05 crores from 21.07.2009 till payment. Accordingly, [CASE NUMBER] is dismissed.
4. Insofar as the penalty orders are concerned, the facts are similar. In [PRECEDENT], a penalty order dated 13.11.2009 was passed for a sum of Rs. 25 lakhs under [SECTION] of the [ACT], which was made payable within 45 days of the receipt of the said order. This was because it was found that wrongful and misleading disclosures were made by the respondents to the Bombay Stock Exchange, by which investors were deprived of important information at the relevant point of time. This was an unfair trade practice for which the respondents were held liable, inasmuch as [SECTION], [SECTION] and [SECTION] of the [ACT] had been breached by the respondents.
An appeal was carried against the aforesaid order, which was dismissed by the SAT on 6.5.2010. By a recovery certificate dated 30.5.2014, the aforesaid amount of Rs. 25 lakhs was demanded, together with interest, under [SECTION] of the [ACT]. On 3.6.2014, the amount of Rs. 25 lakhs was deposited by the respondents, by way of demand drafts, with the SEBI. Acting on the basis of a show cause notice dated 10.7.2014, an order was passed by the Recovery Officer, SEBI on 19.8.2014 directing the respondents to pay interest at 12% per annum for the period of 13.11.2009 till 3.6.2014, amounting to R[SECTION]3,66,849/-.
5. In an appeal to the SAT against the order of the Recovery Officer, the SAT held that interest was payable on and from 18.7.2013 (i.e. the date of introduction of [SECTION] by way of ordinance), but held that since the awarding of interest belongs to the realm of substantive and not procedural law, the aforesaid provision could not be held to be retrospective, and that, therefore, interest demands that were prior to this date were set aside. It is against this part of the order that SEBI has appealed.
6. Shri [ENTITY], learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellants in [CASE NUMBER], has argued before us that, on his facts, it was clear that the order dated 21.7.2009 had, while awarding interest for the years 2005 to 2009, not expressly awarded any future interest and that this was done deliberately inasmuch as if the amount of Rs. 6 crores was not paid within 45 days from the date of the order, the consequence was specified as being debarment for a further period of 7 years which was so severe that further future interest was deliberately not found necessary to be awarded. He brought to our notice certain other orders passed by the same whole-time member of the SEBI in which, in similar circumstances, future interest was also provided. He pointed out that by an order dated 6.12.2013 passed by the SAT, the appellants were permitted to sell their shares, as a result of which they were able to make the payment of Rs. 6 crores on 6.1.2014. He further argued that their case should not have been segregated from the penalty cases by the SAT and that, along with the other individuals in these cases, they should have been made to pay interest only on the unpaid amount from 18.7.2013 and not otherwise. On law, Shri [ENTITY] argued that equity cannot override written law but can only supplement it and cited [PRECEDENT], paragraphs 29-33. He also relied upon the principle that an executing Court cannot go behind a decree or add to it and that since future interest was expressly not provided for in his case, the SAT was in error in going behind the order dated 21.7.2009. He also argued that casus omissus cannot be filled by Courts, but only by the Legislature.
7. Shri [ENTITY], on the other hand, argued that in the order dated 21.7.2009, the debarment for a period of 7 years was without prejudice to SEBIs right to enforce disgorgement, which would necessarily include future interest. He added that [SECTION] belongs to the realm of procedural law, and when [SECTION] of the [ACT] gets attracted, because of [SECTION], such interest belonging to the realm of procedural law would necessarily be payable. Even otherwise, according to learned counsel, interest is payable in equity. Considering the larger public interest of disgorgement amounts and penalty amounts not being paid within the stipulated time, interest would certainly attach as public interest demands that such amounts be made payable to the public exchequer. He referred to [SECTION] of the [ACT], which makes it clear that all amounts realized by way of penalties by SEBI are to be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India and would, therefore, be public monies which can be utilized as such by the Government. He cited a number of judgments to show that even though there may be no direct statutory provision in the [ACT] enabling SEBI to charge interest for the past period, interest may yet be awarded in equity. He also referred to various authorities on the law of restitution, to submit that interest is payable under this law because the defendant has received a benefit unjustly, which the defendant is not entitled to, and should, therefore, pay for the use of this unjust benefit by way of interest.
8. Having heard learned counsel for both sides, it is first important to underline the genesis of [SECTION] The said Section was first inserted by an ordinance dated 18.7.2013. As it then stood, [SECTION] did not refer to [SECTION] of the [ACT] but only referred to [SECTION], [SECTION] and [SECTION], [SECTION] and [SECTION] along with the Second and Third schedules to the said Act. Since this ordinance lapsed, a second ordinance was promulgated on 16.9.2013, re-enacting the same provision. The second ordinance also lapsed and a third ordinance dated 28.3.2014 was then promulgated with the same Section.
9. However, the Bill which led to the amendment of the [ACT], and which inserted [SECTION], eventually included [SECTION] of the [ACT] as well.1
10. Ultimately, [SECTION] was enacted by the [ACT] by which this Section was [SECTION] is an important provision, in that under sub-section (2) thereof, interest is leviable in the circumstances mentioned therein. brought into force, with effect from the date of the first ordinance i.e. with effect from 18.7.2013. [SECTION] reads as follows:
28A. Recovery of Amounts.
(1) If a person fails to pay the penalty imposed by the adjudicating officer or fails to comply with any direction of the Board for refund of monies or fails to comply with a direction of disgorgement order issued under [SECTION] or fails to pay any fees due to the Board, the Recovery Officer may draw up under his signature a statement in the specified form specifying the amount due from the person (such statement being hereafter in this Chapter referred to as certificate) and shall proceed to recover from such person the amount specified in the certificate by one or more of the following modes, namely:
(a) attachment and sale of the persons movable property;
(b) attachment of the persons bank accounts;
(c) attachment and sale of the persons immovable property;
(d) arrest of the person and his detention in prison;
(e) appointing a receiver for the management of the persons movable and immovable properties, and for this purpose, the provisions of [SECTION], [SECTION], [SECTION], [SECTION], the Second and Third Schedules to the [ACT] and the [ACT], as in force from time to time, in so far as may be, apply with necessary modifications as if the said provisions and the rules made thereunder were the provisions of this Act and referred to the amount due under this Act instead of to income-tax under the [ACT].
Explanation 1. For the purposes of this sub- section, the persons movable or immovable property or monies held in bank accounts shall include any property or monies held in bank accounts which has been transferred directly or indirectly on or after the date when the amount specified in certificate had become due, by the person to his spouse or minor child or sons wife or sons minor child, otherwise than for adequate consideration, and which is held by, or stands in the name of, any of the persons aforesaid; and so far as the movable or immovable property or monies held in bank accounts so transferred to his minor child or his sons minor child is concerned, it shall, even after the date of attainment of majority by such minor child or sons minor child, as the case may be, continue to be included in the persons movable or immovable property or monies held in bank accounts for recovering any amount due from the person under this Act.
Explanation 2. Any reference under the provisions of the Second and Third Schedules to the [ACT] and the [ACT] to the assessee shall be construed as a reference to the person specified in the certificate.
Explanation 3. Any reference to appeal in [SECTION] to the [ACT], shall be construed as a reference to appeal before the Securities Appellate Tribunal under [SECTION]T of this Act.
(2)The Recovery Officer shall be empowered to seek the assistance of the local district administration while exercising the powers under sub-section (1).
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the recovery of amounts by a Recovery Officer under sub-section (1), pursuant to non-compliance with any direction issued by the Board under [SECTION], shall have precedence over any other claim against such person.
(4) For the purposes of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3), the expression Recovery Officer means any officer of the Board who may be authorised, by general or special order in writing, to exercise the powers of a Recovery Officer.
11. A number of judgments have held that interest belongs to the field of substantive and not procedural law. Foremost among these judgments is [PRECEDENT], in which a Constitution Bench held:
16. It is well-known that when a statute levies a tax it does so by inserting a charging section by which a liability is created or fixed and then proceeds to provide the machinery to make the liability effective. It, therefore, provides the machinery for the assessment of the liability already fixed by the charging section, and then provides the mode for the recovery and collection of tax, including penal provisions meant to deal with defaulters. Provision is also made for charging interest on delayed payments, etc. Ordinarily the charging section which fixes the liability is strictly construed but that rule of strict construction is not extended to the machinery provisions which are construed like any other statute. The machinery provisions must, no doubt, be so construed as would effectuate the object and purpose of the statute and not defeat the same. (See [PRECEDENT], CIT v. Mahaliram Ramjidas [(1940) 8 ITR 442 :
AIR 1940 PC 124 : 67 IA 239], India United Mills Ltd. v. Commissioner of Excess Profits Tax, Bombay [(1955) 1 SCR 810 : AIR 1955 SC 79 : (1955) 27 ITR 20] and [PRECEDENT]). But it must also be realised that provision by which the authority is empowered to levy and collect interest, even if construed as forming part of the machinery provisions, is substantive law for the simple reason that in the absence of contract or usage interest can be levied under law and it cannot be recovered by way of damages for wrongful detention of the amount.
(See [PRECEDENT] and [PRECEDENT]). Our attention was, however, drawn by Mr. [ENTITY] to two cases. Even in those cases, [PRECEDENT] and [PRECEDENT], all that the Court pointed out was that provision for charging interest was, it seems, introduced in order to compensate for the loss occasioned to the Revenue due to delay. But then interest was charged on the strength of a statutory provision, may be its objective was to compensate the Revenue for delay in payment of tax. But regardless of the reason which impelled the Legislature to provide for charging interest, the Court must give that meaning to it as is conveyed by the language used and the purpose to be achieved. Therefore, any provision made in a statute for charging or levying interest on delayed payment of tax must be construed as a substantive law and not adjectival law. So construed and applying the normal rule of interpretation of statutes, we find, as pointed out by us earlier and by [ENTITY], J. in the Associated Cement Co.
case [(1981) 4 SCC 578 : 1982 SCC (Tax) 3 :
(1981) 48 STC 466] , that if the Revenues contention is accepted it leads to conflicts and creates certain anomalies which could never have been intended by the Legislature.
12. This judgment has been repeatedly followed and the law reiterated in a number of judgments. We need refer to only one such judgment, which is [PRECEDENT].
13. We were also referred to [PRECEDENT], where this Court dealt with the Interest on [ACT], as follows:-
51. There is no doubt about the fact that the Act is a substantive law as vested rights of entitlement to a higher rate of interest in case of delayed payment accrues in favour of the supplier and a corresponding liability is imposed on the buyer. This Court, time and again, has observed that any substantive law shall operate prospectively unless retrospective operation is clearly made out in the language of the statute. Only a procedural or declaratory law operates retrospectively as there is no vested right in procedure.
52. In the absence of any express legislative intendment of the retrospective application of the Act, and by virtue of the fact that the Act creates a new liability of a high rate of interest against the buyer, the Act cannot be construed to have retrospective effect. Since the Act envisages that the supplier has an accrued right to claim a higher rate of interest in terms of the Act, the same can only be said to accrue for sale agreements after the date of commencement of the Act i.e. 23-9-1992 and not any time prior.
14. However, Shri [ENTITY] brought to our notice several judgments in which interest in equity could be awarded if the fact circumstance so warranted. The first of these judgments is Clariant International Limited and Another v. [ENTITY], (2004) 8 SCC 524 at 539, where after noticing that [SECTION] of the 1997 [ACT] was substituted with effect from September 2002 so that interest could be statutorily charged, this Court stated that interest could be awarded on equitable considerations as follows:
30. Interest can be awarded in terms of an agreement or statutory provisions. It can also be awarded by reason of usage or trade having the force of law or on equitable considerations. Interest cannot be awarded by way of damages except in cases where money due is wrongfully withheld and there are equitable grounds therefore, for which a written demand is mandatory.
15. He also referred us to [PRECEDENT], in the context of death caused by a rail accident. The Court noticed that the Railway Acts do not grant any substantive power to levy interest, but went on to state that interest could be awarded on principles contained in [SECTION] of the [ACT] and [SECTION] of the [ACT]. The Court held:
30. As we have indicated hereinbefore, when there is no specific provision for grant of interest on any amount due, the court and even tribunals have been held to be entitled to award interest in their discretion, under the provisions of [SECTION] of the [ACT] and [SECTION] of the [ACT].
xxx xxx xxx
35. Though, both the two aforesaid cases were in relation to awards having been made under the [ACT], a principle has been enunciated that in cases where a money award is made, the principles of [SECTION] of the [ACT] and [SECTION] of the [ACT] could be invoked to award interest from the date of the award till the realisation thereof. Shri [ENTITY] then referred to [PRECEDENT] where, according to him, the Court upheld interest payable in equity as a principle of law, though on the facts of that case, equity was not attracted so as to enable electricity boards to charge interest on security deposits. He also sought to rely upon [PRECEDENT], in which interest was not awarded on equitable grounds only because, on facts, it was held that it cannot be said that NTPC held on to excess amounts in an unjust way, so as to justify the claim of electricity boards for interest on these amounts. Shri [ENTITY] also cited [PRECEDENT], [PRECEDENT] and [PRECEDENT], paragraphs 38-
39 to buttress his submission that interest can always be granted on equitable considerations.
16. We are of the view that an examination of the [ACT] would clearly establish that interest can be granted in equity for causes of action from the date on which such cause of action arose till the date of institution of proceedings.
17. [SECTION] of the old [ACT] read as follows:-
Power of Court to allow interest. It is, therefore, hereby enacted that, upon all debts or sums certain payable at a certain time or otherwise, the Court before which such debts or sums may be recovered may, if it shall think fit, allow interest to the creditor at a rate not exceeding the current rate of interest from the time when such debts or sums certain were payable, if such debts or sums be payable by virtue of some written instrument at a certain time; or if payable otherwise, then from the time when demand of payment shall have been made in writing, so as such demand shall give notice to the debtor that interest will be claimed from the date of such demand until the time of payment: provided that interest shall be payable in all cases in which it is now payable by law.
18. The judgment of the Privy Council in [PRECEDENT], while referring to [SECTION] proviso held:
The [ACT] however contains a proviso that interest shall be payable in all cases in which it is now payable by law. This proviso applies to cases in which the Court of equity exercises jurisdiction to allow interest. As observed by Lord [ENTITY] in Maine and New Brunswick Electrical Power Co. v. Hart (1929 AC 631):
In order to invoke a rule of equity, it is necessary in the first instance to establish the existence of a state of circumstances which attracts the equitable jurisdiction, as, for example, the non-performance of a contract of which equity can give specific performance.
19. This view of the law has since been followed in a number of judgments. In [PRECEDENT], this Court held as under:
The power to award interest on equitable grounds or under any other provisions of the law is expressly saved by the proviso to [SECTION]. This question was considered by the Privy Council in [PRECEDENT]. Referring to the proviso to [SECTION] of the Act the Privy Council observed this proviso applies to cases in which the Court of equity exercises its jurisdiction to allow interest.
20. In [PRECEDENT], this Court held:
It was further held in [PRECEDENT] that the Court had ample power under [SECTION] of the [ACT] to award interest on equitable grounds.
21. The 63rd Law Commission on the [ACT] went into the aspect of grant of interest from the date of cause of action till the date of institution of proceedings in great detail.
After setting out [SECTION], together with the proviso, of the [ACT], the Law Commission recommended in paragraph 4.4A as under:
4.4A. But, in general, proceedings, other than suits would be outside the section. We are of the view that the section should be widened to cover proceedings other than suits. The discretion to award interest is as much needed in relation to other proceedings, as in relation to an ordinary civil suit. We are recommending an amendment of the section for the purpose.
22. After examining the [SECTION], the Law Commission found that:
7.2 Broadly speaking, courts have, in cases decided in reliance on the proviso to [SECTION], awarded interest where the equity of the case so required. For example, where immovable property is purchased or acquired, and the price or compensation (as the case may be) has not yet been paid, there is readiness to award interest. Same is the position where there is a duciary relationship.
7.3. The Supreme Court has observed 2, with reference to the words interest shall be payable in all cases in which it is now payable by law, occurring in the proviso to [SECTION], that the proviso applies to cases in which the courts of Equity exercised jurisdiction to allow interest. xxx xxx xxx 7.5. A similar approach is illustrated by a Nagpur case3, where it was stated:
We are of opinion that we are exercising equitable powers in maintenance cases where a charge has been created by a decree. xxx xxx xxx 7.8. Having carefully considered this aspect of the matter, we have come to the conclusion that it would be just and fair to provide for certain particular situations, without, of course, impairing the generality of the power preserved by the proviso. A few important situations are, accordingly, considered below.
xxx xxx xxx 7.15. Interest may also be recovered in equity in some other cases; for example, where a particular relationship exists between the creditor and the debtor, such as, mortgagor and mortgagee, obligor and obligee on a bond, executor and beneciary, principal and agent, principal and surety, trustee and cestui que trust, vendor and purchaser, or in the case of arrears and annuities. These cases need Mahabir [ENTITY] v. Durga Dutt, (1961) 3 SCR 639; [PRECEDENT].
[PRECEDENT]. not be provided for by specic provisions. The general provision in the proviso to [SECTION] will continue to take care of them.
xxx xxx xxx 7.17 This concludes consideration of points of substance as to the power to award interest under the proviso. We now deal with a verbal point arising from the words now payable by law. We are of the view that the word now should be omitted from the proviso. The word is confusing, and, from the point of view of drafting, inaccurate. We, therefore, recommend its deletion. We also recommend that the words enactment or other rule of law or usage having the force of law should be substituted for the word law, in this part of the proviso. (Emphasis supplied)
23. Parliament accepted the recommendation of the Law Commission and enacted the [ACT].
[SECTION] reads as under:
[SECTION] Definitions In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) court includes a tribunal and an arbitrator; The Act has, therefore, been expanded to cover not merely civil courts but Tribunals as well.
24. We are directly concerned with [SECTION] of the Act which reads as follows:-
[SECTION] - Interest payable under certain enactments (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in [SECTION], interest shall be payable in all cases in which it is payable by virtue of any enactment or other rule of law or usage having the force of law.
(2) Notwithstanding as aforesaid, and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-
section (1), the court shall, in each of the following cases, allow interest from the date specified below to the date of institution of the proceedings at such rate as the court may consider reasonable, unless the court is satisfied that there are special reasons why interest should not be allowed, namely:-
(a) where money or other property has been deposited as security for the performance of an obligation imposed by law or contract, from the date of the deposit;
(b) where the obligation to pay money or restore any property arises by virtue of a fiduciary relationship, from the date of the cause of action;
(c) where money or other property is obtained or retained by fraud, from the date of the cause of action;
(d) where the claim is for dower or maintenance, from the date of the cause of action. By [SECTION], the [ACT] was repealed.
25. This Court in [PRECEDENT], while considering the changes made by the [ACT], stated as follows:
15. Even assuming that interest can be awarded on grounds of equity, it can be awarded only on the reduced sum to be quantified and paid from the date when it becomes due under the policy (that is on the date of death of the assured) and not from any earlier date. We do not propose to examine the question as to whether interest can be awarded at all, on equitable grounds, in view of the enactment of the [ACT] making a significant departure from the old [ACT]). The present Act does not contain the following provision contained in the [SECTION] of the old Act:
interest shall be payable in all cases in which it is now payable by law. How far the decisions of this Court in [PRECEDENT] and [PRECEDENT] and the decision of the Privy Council in [PRECEDENT] holding that interest can be awarded on equitable grounds, all rendered with reference to the said [SECTION] of the old [ACT] (Act of 1839), will be useful to interpret the provisions of the new Act (Act of 1978) may require detailed examination in an appropriate case.
26. The important question which has to be answered in the present case is as to whether the expression other rule of law contained in [SECTION] would enable the Court to continue with the position as it was under the [SECTION] of the [ACT] namely, whether this expression would subsume interest being awarded in equity.
27. We find that a learned single Judge of the Bombay High Court has, in [PRECEDENT], specifically held as follows:
35. The petitioners claim for interest would fall within the ambit of the words or other rule of law in [SECTION]. The other rule of law being on grounds of equity. Even under the [ACT], interest was payable under the proviso to [SECTION] which reads: Provided that interest shall be payable in all cases in which it is now payable by law. Interest was payable by law under that Act in equity. This was recognized in a series of judgments. For instance in [PRECEDENT], the Supreme Court, in paragraph 23, observed that it was well settled that interest is allowed by a Court of equity in the case of money obtained or retained by fraud. Interest was, therefore, awarded in equity.
36. The position is not different under the [ACT]. The words, in [SECTION] or other rule of law would include interest payable in equity. In fact, interest has been awarded by our Courts in equity as well as on principles analogous to [SECTION] of the [ACT] on the basis that [SECTION] is based upon principles of justice, equity and good conscience.
28. We agree with the aforesaid statement of the law. It is clear, therefore, that the [ACT] would enable Tribunals such as the SAT to award interest from the date on which the cause of action arose till the date of commencement of proceedings for recovery of such interest in equity. The present is a case where interest would be payable in equity for the reason that all penalties collected by SEBI would be credited to the Consolidated Fund under [SECTION] of the [ACT]. There is no greater equity than such money being used for public purposes. Deprivation of the use of such money would, therefore, sound in equity. This being the case, it is clear that, despite the fact that [SECTION] belongs to the realm of procedural law and would ordinarily be retrospective, when it seeks to levy interest, which belongs to the realm of substantive law, the Tribunal is correct in stating that such interest would be chargeable under [SECTION] read with [SECTION] of the [ACT] only prospectively.4 However, since it has not The same 2014 Amendment which introduced [SECTION], with effect from 18.7.2013, also introduced [SECTION] retrospectively, with effect from 20.4.2007. This is a positive indication that [SECTION] was intended only to have prospective application. It must be taken into account the [ACT] at all, we set aside the Tribunals findings that no interest could be charged from the date on which penalty became due. The [CASE NUMBER] are allowed insofar as the penalty cases are concerned.
29. However, going to the facts in [CASE NUMBER], we feel that Shri [ENTITY] is on firm ground. He has pointed out similar orders that have been passed by the same whole-time member of SEBI. Thus, in Mr. [ENTITY] v. [ENTITY], the order passed by the same whole-time member reads as follows:
11 Accordingly, in exercise of powers conferred upon me under [SECTION] read with [SECTION], [SECTION] and [SECTION] of the [ACT] and after taking into account the period of prohibition already undergone by the Noticee pursuant to the interim Order, I hereby direct that the Noticee, Mr. [ENTITY] (PAN No. ALKPM 2611G): (a) to disgorge the above unlawful gain of Rs. 72 lakhs and interest thereon @ 10% from the date of listing (August 12, 2005) of the IDFC IPO till the date of actual disgorgement, within 45 days of passing of this Order, by remitting the amount by a crossed demand draft in favour of SEBI, (b) be restrained from buying, selling or dealing in securities market clarified, however, that interest is chargeable only with effect from 25.8.2014, as [SECTION] was not referred to, while enacting [SECTION], in any of the three Ordinances preceding the Amendment Act of 2014.
in whatsoever manner or accessing securities market in any manner, directly or indirectly, for a further period of 2 years from the date of issuance of this Order. In case the amount is not disgorged within the specified time, the Noticee shall be restrained from buying, selling or dealing in securities market in whatsoever manner or accessing securities market, directly or indirectly, for an additional period of 5 years without prejudice to SEBIs right to enforce disgorgement. (Emphasis supplied)
30. Similarly, in [ENTITY] case, by an order dated 7.5.2009, the same gentleman passed the following order:
14b. Mr. [ENTITY] (PAN:
ACVPBB753A), [ENTITY]-HUF (PAN: AADHN2778P), [ENTITY] HUF (PAN: AAEHA7368H), Ms. [ENTITY] (PAN: ACSPC7691P) and Ms. [ENTITY] (PAN: AEFPC1269F) shall disgorge the unlawful gain, as indicated in column 11 of the table under Para 8 above, against their names, totaling to Rs. 9,58,950 (Rupees nine lakhs fifty eight thousand nine hundred and fifty only). They shall also pay the interest on this unlawful gain at the rate of 10% (ten percent) per annum from the date of listing of the IPOs of [ENTITY] and FCS, till the date of payment. The noticees shall disgorge the amount within 45 (forty five) days from the date of this order by way of crossed demand draft drawn in favor of [ENTITY], payable at Mumbai. In case the aforesaid amount is not paid within the specified time, the noticees shall be restrained from buying, selling or dealing in securities market in any manner whatsoever or accessing the securities market, directly or indirectly, for a further period of five years, without prejudice to SEBIs right to enforce disgorgement. (Emphasis supplied)
31. On 10.5.2010, in [ENTITY] v. [ENTITY], the same whole- time member passed the following order:
12 a) [ENTITY] (PAN:
AHXPP5708J) be restrained from buying, selling or dealing in the securities market in any manner whatsoever or accessing the securities market, directly or indirectly, for a period of one year from the date of this Order; and
b) [ENTITY] shall disgorge the unlawful gain of Rs.24,29,340 (Rupees twenty four lakhs twenty nine thousand three hundred and forty only). He shall also pay the interest on this unlawful gain at the rate of 6% (six percent) per annum for 4 years (October 2005 April 2010, i.e. from the date of listing of the IPO of Suzlon till this Order), amounting to Rs.6,55,922. He shall thus disgorge a total amount of Rs.30,85,262 within 45 (forty five) days from the date of this Order by way of crossed demand draft drawn in favour of [ENTITY], payable at Mumbai. In case the aforesaid amount is not paid within the specified time, he shall be restrained from buying, selling or dealing in securities market in any manner whatsoever or accessing the securities market, directly or indirectly, for a further period of seven years without prejudice to SEBIs right to enforce disgorgement along with further interest till actual payment is made. (Emphasis supplied)
32. All the aforesaid orders show that the said whole-time member was fully cognizant of his power to grant future interest which he did in all the aforesaid cases. In fact, in the last mentioned case, whose facts are very similar to the facts of the present case, the order was passed without prejudice to SEBIs right to enforce disgorgement along with further interest till actual payment is made. The words along with further interest till actual payment is made are conspicuous by their absence in the order dated 21.7.2009. In the circumstances, we are of the view that Shri [ENTITY] is correct in his submission. If there is default in payment of Rs. 6 crores within the stipulated time, no future interest is payable inasmuch as a much severer penalty of being debarred from the market for 7 years was instead imposed. We have noticed how the appellant has, in fact, suffered the aforesaid debarment and how he made payment of Rs. 6 crores on 6.1.2014 from the sale of shares. The SAT was incorrect in stating that the order dated 21.7.2009 contained an obligation to pay interest at the rate of 12% per annum on the unlawful gain of Rs.4.05 crores till payment. We, therefore, allow [CASE NUMBER] and set aside the SATs judgment in this appeal as well.
J. ([ENTITY]) J. ([ENTITY]) New Delhi;
October 04, 2017.