M.N. Bhandari, J.—This criminal miscellaneous petition involves following important questions of law:

1. In a complaint for an offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (for short ‘N.I. Act’) whether evidence of the complainant may be given on affidavit at pre-summoning stage?

2. What is the effect of Sections 4 and 5 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (for short ‘the Cr.P.C.’) on Section 145 of the N.I. Act. Whether the provision of Section 145 has overriding effect over the provisions of the Cr.P.C.?

2. It is a case where complaint was filed for an offence under Section 138 of the N.I. Act. The complainant submitted affidavit at pre-summoning stage and thereupon order of cognizance was passed. The petitioner herein filed an application for recalling the order of cognizance on the ground that complainant should have been examined on oath. Application was dismissed vide order dated 1.2.2010 holding that it has been filed only with a view to delay the matter as otherwise, case is now fixed for cross-examination of the witnesses. Aggrieved by the aforesaid two orders, this criminal miscellaneous petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Cr.P.