JUDGMENT:- The petitioner has come forward with this petition, praying to grant anticipatory bail for him on the ground that he is facing trial in C.C.No.324 of 2004 on the file of the Court of Judicial Magistrate, Kallakuruchi, for the offence under S.138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act wherein a Non-Bailable Warrant is issued against him.

2. Heard both sides.

3. Mr. A. Balaguru, the learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner was not able to appear before the trial Court on 15-7-2005, though he was regularly appearing for all the dates of hearing, as a result of which, the learned Magistrate has issued a Non-Bailable Warrant against the petitioner.

4. The offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act is a bailable one, since the same is punishable with imprisonment for a maximum period of two years. But, unfortunately, the learned Magistrate has issued non-bailable warrant without a preceding bailable warrant where the offence is bailable, is not in accordance with the scheme of the Criminal Procedure Code and hence illegal. Therefore, while exercising the power conferred under Sec.87, Cr.P.C. and issuing a warrant, in a case of bailable offence,

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