( 1 ) SINCE the parties are same and as common questions of law are involved in all these petitions, they can be disposed of together.

( 2 ) THE factual matrix necessary for better understanding of the matter and for an effective adjudication of the same may be set forth herein below thus: the first respondent herein is the complainant and the petitioners herein are the accused in as many as ten cases in c. C. Nos. 60,61,63, to 69 and 108 of 2001 filed under Section 138 of the Negotiable instruments Act ( the Act for brevity) before the VIII Metropolitan Magistrate vijayawada. The complainant is a Registered company having been registered under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956. It manufactures and sells automobiles tyres, tubes and flaps. The first accused is a partnership firm and the second accused is its Managing Partner. It is alleged, inter alia, in the complaint that the accused purchased tyres, tubes and flaps from time to time from the complainant-Company on credit basis under various invoices and issued cheques in discharge of the amounts due under the said invoices. As many as 30 cheques drawn on Bank of Baroda, had thus been issued against the i