Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha today said as many as 2,015 companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and 263 on the National Stock Exchange are yet to comply with market regulator SEBI’s directive to appoint at least one woman director on the board.
Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Mr Sinha said of the 1,624 companies listed on the NSE, 1,361 companies have complied, while 263 companies or 16 per cent have not complied with Sebi’s women director norm. The capital markets watchdog Sebi had issued guidelines in February 2014 asking companies to appoint at least one woman director on their boards by October 1, 2014 which was later relaxed to April 1, 2015.
He said the government has been vigilant on the matter of appointment of women director. The minister informed the House that non-compliant firms will have to pay only the monetary fine and can escape further regulatory action if they comply within next six months, till September 30.