S P SAMPATHY Vs. MANJU GUPTA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Eight cases have been referred to this Court by virtue of an order of reference made by learned Single Judge of this Court dated 22/11/2001. The short point involved is whether a Criminal Court can take cognizance of a complaint under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act on a complaint having been filed by a power of attorney holder of the complainant. The learned Single Judge of this Court in Smt. Payyati Savitri Devi v. Malireddy Damayanthamma, I (1997) BC144=1997(4) Crimes 325, relying on Madras High Court judgment in Manimekalai v. Chapaldas Kalyanji Sanghi, 1995 Crl. L.J. 1102, has taken the view that a complaint could be filed by a general power of attorney holder also. The Madras High Court formed the opinion on the basis of Section 195 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. There is not much of discussion in the judgment of the learned Single Judge of this Court (supra), therefore, the learned Single Judge before whom the present matters had come up, expressing his doubts about the views taken by the learned Single Judge of this Court in the judgment (supra,) referred the matter to the Division Bench. We have heard the learned Counsels for the parties and gone through the record. We have seen the complaint as well. The complaint in these cases was not filed by the power of attorney holder. The complaint had been purported to have been made by the complainant who is the payee but it was signed by the power of attorney holder. It was argued before us that, whether it is necessary under Negotiable Instruments Act for a payee to personally file the complaint or even a holder can file the complaint who could be a holder in terms of Section 8 read with Section 142 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. But, those questions do not arise in these matters because the complaint itself was shown to have been made by the payee, but it was not signed by the payee. Section 142(a) of the Negotiable Instruments Act lays down that the Court will not take cognizance of an offence punishable under Section 138 except on a complaint in writing made by the payee or the bolder in due course of the cheque. Clearly the Code of Criminal Procedure is not applicable. Section 5 of the Criminal Procedure Code lays down :

(2.) The learned Counsel for the respondents has referred to some judgments. He referred to Madras High Court judgment in Manimekalai v. Chapaldas Kalyanji Sanghvi (supra). Since we have already held that Code of Criminal Procedure has no application as far as taking of cognizance under Section 138 of the N.I. Act is concerned, therefore, it will not be possible for us to agree with the view of Madras High Court. The Madras High Court in the judgment did not consider the import of Section 5 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. He also referred to a Full Bench judgment of this Court in K. Venkat Ramiah v. C. Sitharamaiah, AIR 1961 AP 208. We do not feel it relevant for the purpose of this case. Similarly the judgment from Punjab and Haryana High Court in Surinder Singh v. John Impex (Pvt.)Ltd., 1997(1) Civil CC 81, was referred. There was no special provision and the complaint in that case was in terms of the Criminal Procedure Code. He also referred to a judgment of Calcutta High Court in Abdul Rahim v. Amal Kumar, 1994(2) Civil CC 60. We do not agree with the views taken for the reasons given hereinabove.

(3.) We are of the considered view that the complaint under Section 142 can be filed either by the payee or the holder thereof. Whether the person is holder thereof is a question of fact and has to be pleaded. In the present case there is no such pleading and in fact the person who filed the complaint had not filed the complaint on his behalf, he had filed the complaint on behalf of payee which is not permissible in terms of provisions of Section 142 of the N.I. Act. We do not agree with the judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in SurinderSingh v. John Implex (Pvt.) Ltd., (supra) for the same reasons.