Giving relief to mutual fund houses, the market regulator SEBI on Tuesday said brokers would be responsible for sale and redemption of units being bought by investors from the secondary market.

"Payment of redemption proceeds to the broker/clearing members by MF/AMC shall discharge MF/AMC of its obligation of payment to individual investor," Sebi said in a circular.

Till now asset management companies had to communicate with the investors regarding the redemption amount as also for the allotment of units to individual investors.

"Similarly, in case of purchase of units, crediting units into broker/clearing member pool account shall discharge MF/AMC of its obligation to allot units to individual investor," Sebi said.

The market regulator has also permitted MF investors to trade through the clearing members of the stock exchanges.

"In order to provide more avenues for purchasing and redeeming ... mutual funds schemes may be permitted to be transacted through clearing members of the registered Stock Exchanges," the circular added.

The Sebi directive would relieve the fund houses of the tedious work of dealing with each and every investors and transfer the job to the stock brokers and clearing members.

In November 2009, Sebi had permitted the buying and selling of mutual funds through stock brokers.

"Now the MFs are free of the tedious work of dealing with the investors separately. This will act as a relief to the asset management companies," SMC Global Securities Strategist & Head of Research Jagannadham Thunuguntla said.

Further, the market regulator has also permited the depositary participants of registered depositories to process the redemption request of units held in demat form.

Currently there are two depositories in the country -- National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) and Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL).