RATTAN CHAND Vs. KANWAR RAM KRIPAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard and gone through the record. Appellant is aggrieved by the judgment dated 17.1.2002 of the learned Additional C. J.M., Una whereby his complaint, under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, read with Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, which he filed against respondent Kanwar Ram Kripal, has been dismissed. The sole reason for the dismissal of the complaint, recorded by the learned trial Court Magistrate, is that the complaint was premature having been filed a day before the accrual of the cause of action. Respondent allegedly issued a cheque for Rs. 9,500 in favour of the complainant. The cheque was dishonoured. On return of the cheque along with the necessary bank memo, complainant issued a notice to the respondent on 19th August, 1993. Complainant was supposed to have waited for 15 days before filing the complaint, as within that much time the respondent could have made the payment, as per requirement of law and escaped prosecution the alleged criminal liability. Appellant, however, rushed to the Court a day before the expiry of that 15 days time. The time was to expire on 4th September, 1993, but the complaint was filed on 3rd September, 1993. Matter was listed before the Magistrate on 13th September, 1993 and it was thereafter that preliminary evidence was recorded and then process was issued to the respondent. That means cognizance of the matter was taken by the Trial Magistrate after the expiry of 15 days time, prescribed to enable the person issuing the cheque to make payment.

(2.) Dealing with this kind of situation, Hon'ble Supreme Court in Narsingh Das Tapadia v. Goverdhan Das Partani and another has held that where the complaint is filed before expiry of 15 days, prescribed waiting period, instead of dismissing the complaint, the Magistrate should postpone the taking of cognizance. The aforesaid judgment applies to the facts of the case with double vigour because here the cognizance had in fact been taken, much after the expiry of the above said 15 days prescribed time limit.

(3.) In view of the above stated position, appeal is accepted, impugned judgment is set aside and the case is remanded to the learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, with a direction to decide the same afresh on merits, in accordance with law. Parties are directed to appear before the trial Court on 24.4.2009. Record of the trial court be returned immediately, along with a copy of this judgment. Registry shall ensure that the record reaches the trial Court before the above said date fixed for the appearance of the parties in that Court. Appeal allowed.