This week in Indian law: SEBI mandated digital accessibility compliance for all regulated entities in the capital markets ecosystem. The RBI amended its KYC Master Directions to permit video-based customer identification. The Supreme Court urged the Election Commission to accept Aadhaar-based verification for electoral roll revision in Bihar. 10 significant legal developments this week across securities regulation, banking, and constitutional rights.
Top story
SEBI Mandates Digital Accessibility for All Regulated Entities
Category: Securities & Capital Markets | Date: 10 July 2025 | Source: SEBI
The Securities and Exchange Board of India issued a circular mandating that all regulated entities — including stock exchanges, depositories, mutual funds, portfolio managers, and stock brokers — ensure their digital platforms comply with accessibility standards for persons with disabilities. The circular requires entities to conduct accessibility audits of websites, mobile applications, and investor-facing digital platforms, and implement remediation measures within defined timelines. The directive aligns the capital markets regulatory framework with obligations under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Why it matters: This represents the first comprehensive digital accessibility mandate in Indian financial regulation, affecting thousands of market intermediaries and potentially reshaping how investors with disabilities interact with capital market platforms.
Read more: Veritect analysis
Regulatory updates
RBI Amends KYC Directions to Permit Video-Based Identification
Regulator: Reserve Bank of India | Date: 11 July 2025
The RBI amended its KYC Master Directions to recognise video-based customer identification as a valid method for account opening and periodic KYC updates. The amendment specifies technical requirements for video identification, including liveness detection, geolocation verification, and mandatory recording of the identification session.
Key point: Video KYC is now permitted for all categories of accounts, subject to transaction limits that may be relaxed upon completion of full in-person KYC.
Reserve Bank of India · Veritect analysis
Court judgments
SC Rules Speaker Lacks Immunity Under Tenth Schedule Powers
Court: Supreme Court of India | Date: 14 July 2025
In a follow-up to its earlier ruling, the Supreme Court elaborated on the scope of judicial review over the Speaker's anti-defection decisions, clarifying that constitutional courts may examine both procedural irregularities and substantive errors in disqualification proceedings under the Tenth Schedule. The judgment reinforced that the doctrine of exclusive privilege does not extend to quasi-judicial functions performed by the Speaker.
Key point: Courts may review both procedural and substantive aspects of the Speaker's anti-defection decisions, not merely jurisdictional errors.
Supreme Court of India · Veritect analysis
SC Urges ECI to Accept Aadhaar for Voter Verification in Bihar
Court: Supreme Court of India | Date: 11 July 2025
The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India to explore accepting Aadhaar as a valid identity document for electoral roll revision in Bihar. The Court observed that Aadhaar-based verification could reduce duplicate entries, improve accuracy, and facilitate the exercise of voting rights by migrant populations.
Key point: The directive could establish a precedent for nationwide Aadhaar-linked voter verification, though the Court emphasised that Aadhaar linking must remain voluntary.
Supreme Court of India · Veritect analysis
SC Establishes Muruganantham Doctrine on Disabled Prisoner Rights
Court: Supreme Court of India | Date: 15 July 2025
Building on its earlier directives, the Supreme Court established the Muruganantham Doctrine requiring all correctional facilities to implement comprehensive accessibility measures for disabled prisoners. The doctrine mandates individualized assessment of disability needs, provision of assistive devices, and modified custody conditions.
Key point: The Muruganantham Doctrine establishes a constitutional baseline for disability accommodations in prisons that states cannot derogate from.
Supreme Court of India · Veritect analysis
Also this week
- SEBI consolidates RTA regulations — Master circular for Registrar and Transfer Agents updated with unified compliance requirements. Veritect analysis
- SEBI revises related party transaction disclosure standards — Enhanced industry standards for RPT identification and disclosure by listed entities. Veritect analysis
- SEBI issues master circular for investment advisers — Consolidated regulatory framework for investment advisory services. Veritect analysis
- MCA designates special courts under IBC — Special courts established for faster resolution of insolvency-related criminal matters. Veritect analysis
- RBI issues project finance directions — New comprehensive directions for infrastructure project financing. Veritect analysis
By the numbers
- 5,000+ — Estimated number of SEBI-regulated entities required to comply with digital accessibility standards
- 90 days — Timeline for initial accessibility audit reports under the SEBI circular
- 6 months — Deadline for states to file compliance reports on disabled prisoner accommodations
Looking ahead
- Week of 21 July: Parliament Monsoon Session expected to open — Income Tax Bill 2025, Bills of Lading Bill, and other major legislation on the agenda
- August 2025: SEBI cybersecurity framework (CSCRF) compliance deadline
- Q2 FY26: IBBI statistics expected to show continued improvement in IBC resolution timelines
This is the Veritect Weekly Legal Roundup for Week 28 of 2025. For daily updates, visit our legal news page. Subscribe to receive this roundup every Monday morning.
Veritect provides this content for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.