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CALCUTTA HIGH COURT
ARUNABHA BARUA, J.
CRR No. 964 of 1999
Decided on 28.9.2001
NEMAI CHAND BOSE
versus
MODI CEMENT LTD. & ORS.

Counsel for the parties :
For the Appellant :Mr. Madhusudan Sur, Advocate.
For the Opposite Party No. 1:Mr. Girija Ranjan Saha, Mr. Tapan Chakraborty, Advocates.

The court emphasized the importance of following legal procedures, rectifying mistakes, and ensuring the ends of justice are achieved.

Headnote:

Negotiable Instruments Act - Issuance of Summons without Examination of Complainant - Section 138, N.I. Act - Section 200, Cr.P.C. - 362, Cr.P.C.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner was accused of issuing a dishonored cheque under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The Metropolitan Magistrate issued summons to the accused without examining the complainant under section 200, Cr.P.C. The Magistrate later recalled the bail order and ordered the issuance of process after examining the complainant.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the initial issuance of summons without examining the complainant was a result of inadvertence and lack of application of mind by the Magistrate. However, the Magistrate rectified the mistake by recalling the bail order and subsequently ordering the issuance of process after examining the complainant and finding a prima facie case.

Issues: The issues revolved around the legality of the initial issuance of summons without examining the complainant and the subsequent recall of the bail order by the Magistrate.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the recall of the bail order was necessitated by the initial mistake of issuing summons without examining the complainant, and there was no legal impediment to the recall under section 362, Cr.P.C.

Final Decision: The revisional application was dismissed, and the lower court was directed to proceed with the case and dispose of it expeditiously.

JUDGMENT

Arunabha Barua, J. - This revisional application is directed against an Order dt. 27.1.1999 passed by the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, 6th Court, Calcutta in Case No. C/2442/97.

2.The facts leading to the present revision may be shortly stated thus: The O.P. No. 1, M/s. Modi Cement Ltd., through its constituted Attorney, Tarapada Saha, lodged a complaint with the learned Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Calcutta; against the petitioner- accused under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. It was alleged that the petitioner accused purchased diverse quantities of cement from the O.P.No.l on credit and a sum of Rs. 65,888.93 was due and payable from the petitioner accused to the Opposite Party No. 1 Cement Company. In liability and in payment of the aforesaid dues, the petitioner-accused issued a cheque for Rs. 65,888.93 drawn on the State Bank of India, Memari but the cheque was returned dishonoured with remarks, "out of funds" by the bank. Despite due legal notice served upon the petitioner by the complainant to make the payment, the petitioner failed and neglected to pay up the said dues or sum of money covered by the cheque. Hence, the complaint. On the basis of the said complaint, the learned Chief metropolitan Magistrate was pleased to take cognizance and transferred the case to the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, 6th Court, Calcutta. Then, what the learned Metropolitan Magistrate 6th Court, did was, he issued summons to the accused (petitioner) for his appearance without examining the complainant on S/A under section 200, Cr.P.C. and when the petitioner accused actually made his appearance before the Court on 27.1.1999 in pursuance thereof and prayed for bail, the learned Magistrate allowed the prayer and granted a bail of Rs. 1,000/- and fixed 18.3.1999 for plea. But later on the same day i.e. 27.1.1999 the learned Magistrate made another order to say that summons to the accused was issued inadvertently, that process could not at all be issued according to law without examining the complainant on S/A and hence, the learned Magistrate immediately re-called his own order made earlier on the day in respect of the bail fixed and 4.2.1999 for S/A directing the complainant to come ready as last chance. In February, 1999 the complainant was examined and on a consideration of his evidence and entire materials on record the learned Magistrate found that the complainant had made out a prima facie case and so, he ordered issuance of process against the petitioner-accused under Section 138, N.I.Act fixing 8.4.1999 for S/R and appearance.

3. Now, the twin grievance, the petitioner-accused has come up with us that the direction for appearance of the petitioner without examining the complainant on S/A under section 200, Cr.P.C. was illegal and vitiated the whole proceedings and next, that by recalling his own order granting bail to the petitioner, the learned magistrate had violated the provision of section 362 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

4. The aforesaid grievances were highlighted by the learned Advocate for the petitioners while making his sub-missions. According to him the provisions of section 200, Cr.P.C. is mandatory and that the learned Magistrate should not have issued summons to the accused before examining the complainant on S/A under section 200, Cr.P.C. which might or might not have satisfied him that there was sufficient ground for proceeding. The next part of the submission of the ed, advocate for the petitioner is that the learned Magistrate after allowing the prayer for the petitioner for bail could not recall his own order because section 362 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was a clear bar to such a recall of any order passed by the same court. He, therefore, submits that non examination of the complainant under section 200, Cr.P.C. has vitiated the proceeding and any further continuance thereof would be an abuse of the process of the Court, that to secure the ends of justice, the im


























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