JUDGMENT

KURIAN, J.

1. Fairness, integrity and transparency are the hallmarks of the stock market in India. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (hereinafter referred to as “SEBI”) is the vigilant watchdog. Whether the factual matrix justified the watchdog’s bite is the issue arising for consideration in this case.

2. There are two sets of party respondents – the traders and the brokers. SEBI proceeded against the traders for violation of Regulations 3(a), (b) and (c) and 4 (1), (2)(a) and (b) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices Relating to Securities Market) Regulations, 2003 (hereinafter referred to as “the PFUTP Regulations”). In the case of brokers, the charge is that they also violated Regulations 7A (1), (2), (3) and (4) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Stock Brokers and Sub-brokers) Regulations, 1992.

3. As the matter before us involves thr