NARENDRA NALWAYA Vs. ISHWAR LAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) BY the instant criminal revision petition under Section 397 read with Section 401 CrPC , the petitioner has challenged the order dated 29.2004 passed by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate No. 3, Udaipur (for short, "the trial Court" hereinafter) in Criminal Case No. 1314/2003, whereby the trial Court discharged the accused -respondent from the offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881 (for short, "the Act"). Aggrieved by the impugned order of discharge, the complainant -petitioner has filed the instant revision petition.

(2.) I have heard learned Counsel for the parties. Perused the order impugned and the relevant material.

(3.) THE facts and circumstances giving rise to the instant revision petition are that a complaint for the offence under Section 138 of the Act was filed by the petitioner -complainant before the trial Court on 29.5.2003. After holding the inquiry as contemplated under Chapter XIV of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short, "the Code"), the trial Court took cognizance of the offence against the respondent and issued the process. In pursuance of the same, the respondent appeared before the trial Court on 11.2003 and at his request, the matter was adjourned to 4.2004. On 4.2004, the respondent did not appear; however, his Counsel appeared and sought exemption of his personal appearance. The Counsel appearing for the respondent also filed an application under Section 204 of the Code and that application come to the (sic) dismissed by the trial Court on 4.2004. The substance of charge was read over to the accused -respondent through the Counsel and the matter was posted to 15.2004 for recording the statement of the complainant. On 15. 2004, the complainant appeared as a witness and got himself examined. The respondent filed another application under Section 203/204 of the Code on 26.5.2004 on the ground that the cheque amount was barred by the period of limitation and, therefore, it is not legally enforceable debt. It was alleged that the amount was paid by the petitioner to the accused -respondent on 29.1999, against which the respondent issued cheque No. 753434 dated 4.2003 and the limitation for recovery of the loan amount expired on 29.2002 and, therefore, the cheque amount is not against the debt which is legally enforceable. The trial Court allowed the application and discharged the accused -respondent by the order impugned dated 29.2004.