After the clearance of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (IRC 2020) by the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha also passed the IRC 2020 on 23 September 2020. It is noteworthy that prior to this swift approval, the Industrial Relations Code, 2019 (IRC 2019) was introduced in November 2019 and thereafter was referred to the Standing Committee on Labour 2019-2020 (Standing Committee) for comments.
On 23 September 2020, Parliament passed the Code on Social Security, 2020 (Code 2020). The introduction of the bill in the Lok Sabha on 19 September 2020 and its subsequent clearance by both houses of Parliament come after the Code on Social Security, 2019 (Code 2019) was introduced in Parliament last year and subsequently sent to the Standing Committee on Labour 2019-2020 for evaluation.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued its ‘Recommendations on Cloud Services’ on 14 September 2020 (Recommendations). The Recommendations are a culmination of an extensive consultation process that has virtually spanned over the last 8 years.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has granted a much-awaited wish of investors and fund managers mulling over at starting operations in International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).
The concept of ‘proxy advisor’ is of western import and despite the nascency has slowly and steadily gained importance in the Indian market as a critical intermediary and a rather persuasive influencer of a company’s decision making and policies through the shareholders.
On the basis of clinching evidence such as emails and WhatsApp communications, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) found ten manufacturers and suppliers of brake blocks to Indian Railways (Railways) guilty of collusive bidding. However, given the economic downturn due to the pandemic faced by Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India, and other public interest considerations, the CCI imposed no penalty and directed the parties to cease and desist from indulging in such activities in the future.
With the amendments to the Indian Stamp Act 1899 (Stamp Act) brought in by the Finance Act 2019 (to be effective from 1 July 2020), there was an ambiguity on the application of such amendments on issuance and transfer of units of alternative investment funds (AIFs). This was followed by the issuance of a circular by SEBI, i.e.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has granted certain significant relaxations with respect to new capital raises / preferential allotments by stressed public listed companies.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011 (Takeover Regulations) have been amended, effective 16 June 2020, to grant certain significant relaxations to promoters looking to consolidate their holding in Indian listed companies (ListCos). These are:
In order to allow a larger group of listed companies to raise funds from the public, during the testing times brought about by COVID-19, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued a circular dated 9 June 2020 (Circular). The Circular has relaxed the eligibility conditions applicable to fast track further public offers by listed companies (Fast Track FPOs).
