Can damaged or old physical share certificates also be dematerialised?

Yes, damaged or old physical share certificates can be dematerialised, subject to their condition.
If the certificate details are clearly legible despite minor damage, you can proceed with the standard dematerialisation process. However, if the certificates are severely damaged, unreadable, or lost, you must first approach the company’s Registrar and Transfer Agent (RTA) to obtain duplicate certificates before initiating dematerialisation.