LAWS(DLH)-2017-10-82

DAYAWATI Vs. YOGESH KUMAR GOSAIN

Decided On October 17, 2017
DAYAWATI Appellant
V/S
Yogesh Kumar Gosain Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The legal permissibility of referring a complaint cases under section 138 of the NI Act for amicable settlement through mediation; procedure to be followed upon settlement and the legal implications of breach of the mediation settlement is the subject matter of this judgment. Shri Bharat Chugh, as the concerned Metropolitan Magistrate (NI Act) - Central - 01/THC/Delhi, when seized of Complaint Case Nos.519662/2016 and 519664/2016 (Old Complaint Case Nos.2429/2015 and 2430/2015) under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act ("NI Act" hereafter) passed an order dated 13th January, 2016, the following questions under section 395 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 ("Cr.P.C" hereafter) to this court for consideration :

(2.) Given the importance of the questions raised in criminal law, by an order dated 15th March, 2016, we had appointed Mr. Siddharth Aggarwal, Advocate as amicus curiae in the matter. On the 20th of July 2016, having regard to the nature of the above issues which had been crystallized by the ld. Metropolitan Magistrate and in view of their extensive experience on all aspects of mediation, we had also appointed Mr. J.P. Sengh, Sr. Advocate as well as Ms. Veena Ralli, Advocate (currently Member and Organizing Secretary respectively of the Organizing Committee of Samadhan - Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre), both senior and experienced mediators, as amici curiae in the matter.

(3.) Court notice was also issued to the counsel for the parties in both CC Nos.2429/2015 and 2430/2015, Dayawati v. Yogesh Kumar Gosain pending in the court of the Metropolitan Magistrate for appearance before us and they stand represented through counsel before us.