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2023 (7) TMI 1169 - PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURTDishonour of Cheque - prosecution based upon second or successive dishonour of the cheque - HELD THAT:- As per settled law and proviso (a) of Section 138 of the 1881 Act, successive presentation of cheque is permissible within the period of its validity. The issue whether the prosecution based upon second or successive dishonour of the cheque is permissible or not, is no longer res integra and a three-Judges Bench of Hon'ble Apex Court in MSR LEATHERS VERSUS S PALANIAPPAN & ANR [2012 (10) TMI 232 - SUPREME COURT], held that there is nothing in the provisions of Section 138 of the Act that forbids the holder of the cheque to make successive presentation of the cheque and institute the criminal complaint based on the second or successive dishonour of the cheque on its presentation. Admittedly, successive presentation within the validity period of cheque is permissible. Another proviso (138(b)) requires that demand for payment by notice in writing has to be made within 30 days after information is received about return of cheque as unpaid. Thus once, successive presentation is permissible and cheque can be presented any number of times during its validity period, as a natural corollary of the same, drawee is required to be bound by successive information received about encashment or return, and demand for payment within 30 days from any fresh information can be raised. However, clause (c) makes it mandatory to file complaint in case drawer fails to make payment within 15 days of receipt of notice which means once demand notice is issued, thereafter no presentation is permitted. Reliance placed on the judgment of MSR Leathers is misconceived on two counts. Firstly, it is required to be noticed that in paras 4 and 5 of the complaint, the respondent-complainant has mentioned that the cheque was presented again on an assurance given by the petitioner, while this was not the case in D.V. VANITHA VERSUS S.L. VEZHAVENDHAN [2022 (2) TMI 1381 - MADRAS HIGH COURT] and additionally this scenario is specifically covered by the reasoning given in MSR's case - Secondly, in Vanitha's case, Division Bench was exercising revisional jurisdiction after trial has completed and thus was having the benefit of observing and examining all the aspects of the case, while in the present case the trial is at very initial stage only and this Court does not have the benefit of examining the evidence and submissions made from both the sides. When the cheque has been successively presented within its validity period and demand notice in writing has been issued within 30 days of the receipt of information from the bank regarding the return of cheque as unpaid; no ground is made out for any intervention by this Court and accordingly, present petition is dismissed.
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