Vedanta Limited has issued a regulatory notice dated January 07, 2026, informing shareholders about the impending transfer of equity shares to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) for unclaimed dividends. The notice, filed under Regulation 30 of SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015, addresses shareholders whose dividend payments have remained unclaimed for seven consecutive years.

Regulatory Compliance and Legal Framework

The transfer process is mandated under Section 124(6) of the Companies Act, 2013, read with the IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016. According to these regulations, shares corresponding to unclaimed dividends for seven consecutive years must be transferred to the IEPF Authority. The company has identified shareholders whose dividends from the financial year 2018-19 remain unclaimed, making their shares liable for transfer.

Critical Deadline and Documentation Requirements

Shareholders have until March 15, 2026 to claim their unpaid dividends and prevent the transfer of their shares to IEPF. The documentation requirements vary based on the mode of shareholding:

Consequences of Non-Compliance

The company has clearly stated that if dividends remain unclaimed by the March 15, 2026 deadline, the shares will be transferred to IEPF following prescribed procedures. Post-transfer, no claims can be made against the company for unclaimed dividend amounts and transferred shares. Additionally, all future benefits including potential dividends will be credited to IEPF rather than the original shareholders.

Recovery Process and Contact Information

Shareholders whose shares and dividends are transferred to IEPF can still recover them by submitting an online application in Form IEPF-5 through the IEPF Authority website at www.iepf.gov.in . For assistance with the claim process, shareholders can contact Vedanta Limited's Corporate Secretarial department or the company's registrar, KFin Technologies Limited.

The notice, signed by Company Secretary and Compliance Officer Prerna Halwasiya, emphasizes the importance of timely action by affected shareholders to prevent the automatic transfer of their holdings to the IEPF Authority.

The Delhi High Court has delivered a significant ruling in Vedanta 's legal challenge over the CB-OS/2 offshore oil block, granting interim relief to the company on Wednesday, January 7. The court has stayed the Centre's direction requiring Vedanta to cease operations and hand over the block to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), while ordering both parties to maintain status quo until further orders.

Court's Key Rulings

The Delhi High Court's decision addresses multiple critical aspects of the ongoing dispute. A division bench rejected the Centre's objection questioning the maintainability of Vedanta's plea, holding that the company's arguments need proper consideration. The court has imposed a comprehensive status quo order, effectively freezing the block transfer and allowing Vedanta to continue operations.

Background of the Dispute

The legal battle stems from a complex timeline spanning over two decades. Vedanta was awarded the CB-OS/2 offshore block under a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) in 1998, with the original contract set to expire in 2023. The company applied for an extension in 2021 under government policy, and while the request remained pending, Vedanta received five interim extensions allowing continued petroleum operations.

Government's September Decision

In September 2025, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas rejected Vedanta's extension request and directed the company to stop operations, vacate the block, and hand over control to ONGC. Vedanta challenged this decision, claiming it was not given a proper hearing before rejection and arguing that the issues raised were never mentioned during the five previous interim extensions.

Market Response

Following the court's favorable ruling, Vedanta shares are trading at ₹622.50 apiece, reflecting a 0.15% increase from the day's opening on the NSE. The interim relief provides operational certainty for the company while legal proceedings continue.

Immediate Implications

The status quo order represents a significant temporary victory for Vedanta, as it prevents ONGC from taking operational control of the CB-OS/2 block and allows Vedanta to maintain its petroleum operations. This interim relief ensures continuity of operations while the substantive legal issues are resolved through proper judicial consideration.