Write short notes on: 'Consent Order' issued by SEBI.

Consent order means an order setting aside administrative or civil proceedings between the regulator and a person who may prima facie be found to have violated securities laws. It may settle all issues or reserve an issue or claim, but it must precisely state what issues or claims are being reserved A consent order may or may not include a determination that a violation has occurred. Consent order provides flexibility of wider array of enforcement and remedial actions which will achieve the twin goals of an appropriate sanction remedy and deterrence without resulting to litigation lengthy proceedings and consequent delays. Consent orders cannot be construed as waiver of statutory powers by Securities Exchange Board of India (Board). The board always has the right to proceed for appropriate action if it cannot achieve its objectives through consent order. The provisions of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Settlement Proceedings) Regulations, 2018 regulate the issuance of Consent/ Settlement Orders.