Karnataka High Court
Nagaraj - Appellant
Versus
Gowramma - Respondent
Decided On : 04-16-04
CRI.PETN. : 20 of 2002
Held: The learned Sessions Judge after considering the evidence and the materials placed on record came to the conclusion that the respondent has rightly filed a revision petition under Section 397 of the Cr. P.C. for enhance-ment of sentence. Under Section 397 of the Cr. P.C. equal powers are given both to the High Court; as well as Sessions Court to call for and examine the records of any proceeding pending before any inferior Criminal Court within its local jurisdiction for purpose of satisfying itself as to the correctness, legality or propriety of any finding, sentence or order recor-ded or passed as to the regularity of any proceeding of such inferior Court. In the instant case the respondent herein has rightly preferred a revision petition before the I Additional Sessions Judge for inadequacy of sentence passed by the Trial Court. Therefore, the contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner does not hold water. (Para 8)
Under Section 138 of the N.I. Act the order of sentence was passed by the Trial Court awarding lesser sentence even though the amount covered under the cheque was Rs. 60,000/- but the Trial Court while sentencing this petitioner-accused awarded only a fine of Rs. 10,000/-. Therefore, the respondent has rightly filed a revision petition under Section 397 of the Cr. P.C. before the learned Sessions Judge. If the com-plainant proves the charges levelled against the revision petitioner-accused for the offence punishable under Section 138 of the N.I. Act the Magistrate may impose the sentence or the fine double the cheque amount. Therefore, it can be said that the Magistrate misread the provisions of Section 138 of the N.I. Act while imposing the fine of Rs. 10,000/-. Therefore, under Section 397 of the Cr. P.C. the respondent has rightly filed a revision petition and the learned Sessions Judge has after appreciation of the materials placed on record enhanced the sentence of fine amount from Rs. 10,000/- to Rs. 65,000/-. (Para 9)
Result: Petition dismissed.
( 1 ) THIS petition is directed against the order dated 25-6-1999 passed by the XIII Addl. Chief Metropolitan magistrate, Bangalore, in C. C. No. 16399/97 and order dated 26-9-2001 passed by the I Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bangalore, in Crl. R. P. No. 239/99, whereby the Addl. C. M. M. , Bangalore, convicted this petitioner for an offence punishable under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act (hereinafter referred to "the N. I. Act") and sentencing him to pay a fine of Rs. 10,000/-, in default to pay the fine amount he shall suffer S. I. for two months. Whereas, 1st Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judge allowed Crl. R. P. No. 239/99 filed by the respondent for inadequate sentence awarded by the trial court under Section 397, Cr. P. C. Therefore, assailing both the orders the petitioner has come up with this petition under Section 482, Cr. P. C. on the ground that the learned sessions Judge exceeded his jurisdiction and exercised revisional jurisdiction provided under the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 which amounts to abuse of due process of law and miscarriage of Justice. Further, it is alleged that, though the alleged cheque, as shown in the complaint is totally different from that of cheque mentioned in the complaint but the learned Sessions judge has not taken into consideration about the defence of this revision petitioner accused. On this ground alone instead of dismissing the revision petition the learned Sessions Judge allowed it and enhanced the fine amount from Rs. 10. 000/- to rs. 65. 000/- which is illegal, abuse of due process of law and miscarriage of justice. Hence this petition.
( 2 ) THE brief facts leading to this case are that the revision petitioner herein borrowed a sum of Rs. 60,0007- from the respondent on 6-2-1996 and executed consideration receipt agreeing to repay the same with interest within 10 months. On demand he issued a cheque dated 5-10-1996 for rs. 60. 000/ -. Since the petitioner failed to pay the said amount the respondent presented the said cheque to his bank but it was returned with an endorsement "insufficient funds". Therefore the demand notice has been issued by the respondent calling upon the petitioner to pay the said amount. Even then the petitioner failed to pay the amount. Therefore he filed a private complaint under Section 138 of the N. T. Act, after recording the sworn statement of the respondent Addl. C. M. M. took cognizance and issued the process. After appearance of this revision petitioner accused a charge was framed, thereafter the respondent examined herself as P. W. 1 and got marked the documents Exs. PI to P5 and closed her case. But the petitioner herein did not choose to adduce any evidence to prove his contention/defence, therefore after considering the materials placed on record the Addl. C. M. M. convicted and sentence this revision petitioner to pay a fine of Rs. 10. 000/ -.
( 3 ) FEELING aggrieved by the said order he preferred Crl. A. 206/1999. After reappreciation of the evidence and the materials placed on record the learned I Addl. City Civil and sessions Judge dismissed the appeal. In the meantime the respondent-complainant had filed Crl. R. P. No. 239/99 for inadequate sentence awarded by the learned Magistrate on the accused who was convicted under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments act. The learned Addl. City Civil and Sessions judge, after considering the materials placed on record enhanced the fine amount from rs. 10. 000/- to Rs. 65. 000/-, in case of default of payment of fine, the sentence was also enhanced to undergo simple imprisonment from two months to 6 months.
( 4 ) HEARD the arguments of the learned counsel for the petitioner and the respondent.
( 5 ) DURING the course of the arguments the learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that, even though there is no jurisdiction to entertain a revision petition filed by the respondent complainant the learned addl. Sessions Judge, Bangalore, enter tained the re
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