CHACKO Vs. JOSEPH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These appeals are taken up for disposal together as agreed by the rival contestants as the appellant and respondent in these appeals are common and the challenge raised is against a common judgment. The complainant is the appellant. He had alleged that the accused had committed the offence punishable under S.138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act in respect of three cheques for a total amount of Rs. 6,00,000. By the impugned judgment the accused was found not guilty and acquitted.

(2.) The complainant alleged that the accused had issued three cheques for a total amount of Rs. 6,00,000 to him for the due discharge of a legally enforceable debt / liability. The complainant had advanced the said amount and for return of the same three post dated cheques dt. 1.6.1990, 15.6.1990 and 1.7.1990 were issued to the accused by the complainant. The said cheques when presented for encashment were dishonoured by the bank on the ground of insufficiency of funds. The information of dishonour was received by the complainant on the respective dates of dishonour. The complainant allegedly informed the accused of the fact of dishonour. Both of them are Professors in a college. The complainant caused registered notices of demand as insisted by law to be issued to the accused. The notices addressed to the residential address of the accused were not received and were returned to the accused. Even before the complainant actually received those notices back, by way of abundant caution, the complainant caused further notices to be issued to the accused at his official address. These were also evaded. All such attempts to effect service did not fructify. No payment was made by the accused. It is in these circumstances that the complainant came to court with three separate complaints.

(3.) Cognisance was taken by the learned Magistrate. The accused denied the offence alleged against him. Thereupon the complainant examined Pws. 1 to 4. PW. 1 is the complainant. PW. 2 is the manager of the drawee bank. PW. 3 is the Principal of the college and he is examined obviously for the purpose of showing that the accused who was present in college had not accepted the notices addressed to him at the college address. PW. 4 is the postman and he was examined for proving that the notices addressed to the accused at his correct address could not be served as the accused attempted to evade the same. Exts. P1 to P24 were marked.