D SHYAM SUNDER Vs. NEELLA PRABHU LINGAMURTHY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition is filed by the accused under Section 482 Cr.P.C for quashing proceedings in C.C. No.397 of 2006 on the file of Additional Judicial Magistrate of the First Class, Karimnagar relating to offence punishable under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act.

(2.) The 1st respondent filed private complaint in the lower Court against the accused alleging offence punishable under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act on the ground that cheque issued by the accused towards discharge of legally enforceable debt was dishonoured by banker of the accused for want of sufficient funds in his account. The dishonoured cheque was returned to the complainant with cheque return memo dated 13.06.2005 with an endorsement of "insufficient funds". Thereupon, the complainant got issued statutory notice on 17.06.2005 calling upon the accused to pay amount covered by the cheque. It was received by the accused on 18.06.2005 and the accused sent reply notice dated 02.07.2005. The private complaint was filed in the lower Court on 14.09.2005 with delay of 41 days in presenting the complaint. The complainant filed separate petition in Crl.M.P. No.3639/2005 in the lower Court under Section 142 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for condonation of the said delay of 41 days in presenting the complaint in the lower Court. The lower Court, after hearing the complainant's counsel, passed order dated 10.11.2005 condoning the delay; and thereafter took cognizance of the offence against the accused.

(3.) It is contended by the petitioner's counsel that order passed by the lower Court condoning the delay is not in accordance with law as it is an order without reasons and passed in a summary manner. Reliance was placed on State of H.P. v. Tara Dutt, 2000 1 SCC 230, by the petitioner's counsel in this regard. It was a decision rendered under Section 473 Cr.P.C, which is akin to Section 142 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. It was held therein by the Supreme Court that discretion thereunder has to be exercised judicially and on well recognised principles and that the same must be by a speaking order indicating satisfaction of the Court that the delay was satisfactorily explained and condonation of the same was in the interest of justice and that there should be a positive order to that affect. In the case on hand, the lower Court passed order dated 10.11.2005 accepting reasons put forward by the complainant for the delay. It is contended that the lower Court simply re-produced reasons without considering those reasons. According to the complainant, delay of 41 days was caused from 04.08.2005 onwards and the same delay was not intentional and was due to illness of the complainant because the complainant suddenly fell ill suffering from viral fever. The complainant also filed medical certificate issued by Dr.R.Vittal Reddy of Karimnagar to the affect that the complainant took treatment from him during the above period for the said illness.