2014 Supreme(Chh) 282
IN THE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
Goutam Bhaduri, J.
Sarita Shriwas – Appellant
Vs.
Rajini Khatri – Respondent
Criminal Misc. Petition No. 513/2013
Decided On: 07.02.2014
Advocate Appeared:
For Appellant/Petitioner/Plaintiff:Shrawan Agrawal, Advocate
For Respondents/Defendant:K.K. Dewangan, Advocate
Headnote:
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 - Section 138 - Evidence Act - Section 137 - Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - Section 200 – Dishonor of cheque - Issued a demand notice – Condo nation of delay - Counsel for the petitioner submits that in the said notice, the address of the petitioner was wrongly mentioned, as such, the presumption cannot be drawn that the service of notice was effected. He, therefore, submits that Section 138-B mandates that the service of notice to be effected and mere sending of the notice will not comply with the provisions of Section 138-B. Therefore, the issuance of summons by the Court below on that basis is bad in law. Further, it is submitted that the cognizance was taken by the learned Court below on 31-8-2009 without recording the evidence of the complainant/respondent and as such, the very taking cognizance of the offence was bad inasmuch as the affidavit was subsequently filed on 7-9-2013 that is much after taking the cognizance on 31-8-2009, He, therefore, submits that the same is also clearly illegal. The Counsel further submits that Section 142 of NI Act puts a rider that after receipt of notice only, the cognizance could have been taken and without such service, the same was bad in law. He further vehemently submitted that cognizance cannot be taken only on the basis of affidavit without any examination – Held, Further reading of Section 145 would make it clear that it starts with non obstante clause with respect of the Code of Criminal Procedure and it postulates that the evidence of the complainant may be given on affidavit but the affidavit of the complainant may be read in evidence in any enquiry or the trial or other proceeding "subject to all just exceptions". Therefore, harmonious reading of this section with respect to the provisions of the Indian Evidence Act would construe that the evidence given must be admissible and may not include inadmissible matters. Hence, interpretation of Section 145 makes it clear that it will apply to a limited part while adducing evidence with respect to filing of the complaint qua Criminal Procedure Code from Sections 200 to 203 and not beyond - Further, the section only confines it to the complaints, which are filed under Section 138 of the NI Act, therefore, the non-obstante clause, in the opinion of this Court, is an enactment subject to the supplement to an earlier enactment, which was made by the amendment introduced in the year 2002 in the NI Act. The object of such amendment was brought for an early disposal of the case relating to the dishonour of cheques. Therefore, a conjoint reading would make it clear that the evidence can be given on the basis of an affidavit when the complaint is filed under Section 138 of NI Act, that shall be subject to "just exception - Petition dismissed
Goutam Bhaduri, J.
1. By this petition, the challenge is made to the cognizance taken under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (for short "the NI Act") whereby the notices were issued to the petitioner/accused by the Court of JMFC, Raipur on 31-8-2009. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that the respondent had filed a complaint on 17-8-2009 before the JMFC, Raipur, on the ground that the cheque worth Rs. 90,000/- was dishonoured for want of money. The cheque drawn on Central Bank of India bearing No. 142789, dated 24-3-2009 was issued in favour of the respondent and on being presented, it was dishonoured on account of insufficient funds. It is alleged that respondent, thereafter, issued a demand notice to the petitioner/accused on 25-7-2009 through her Advocate as required under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
2. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that in the said notice, the address of the petitioner was wrongly mentioned, as such, the presumption cannot be drawn that the service of notice was effected. He, therefore, submits that Section 138-B mandates that the service of notice to be effected and mere sending of the notice will not comply with the provisions of Section 138-B. Therefore, the issuance of summons by the Court below on that basis is bad in law. Further, it is submitted that the cognizance was taken by the learned Court below on 31-8-2009 without recording the evidence of the complainant/respondent and as such, the very taking cognizance of the offence was bad inasmuch as the affidavit was subsequently filed on 7-9-2013 that is much after taking the cognizance on 31-8-2009, He, therefore, submits that the same is also clearly illegal. The Counsel further submits that Section 142 of NI Act puts a rider that after receipt of notice only, the cognizance could have been taken and without such service, the same was bad in law. He further vehemently submitted that cognizance cannot be taken only on the basis of affidavit without any examination.
3. Learned Counsel for the applicant also relies on a case law reported in (2009) 1 SCC 720 in case of Harman Electronics Private Limited and another Vs. National Panasonic India Private Limited, and submits that giving a notice and receiving a notice are two distinct forms which cannot be equated with each other and in this case, since the notice was not received, the procedure of taking cognizance is bad in law.
4. Per contra, learned Counsel appearing for the respondent submits that the address of the petitioner was correctly shown in the notice which was received by her. It is stated that the petitioner was shown to be a resident of Bajrang Nagar Police Station, Azad Chowk, therefore, the mere fact that the addressee was resident of Bajrang Nagar, Police Station, Saraswati Nagar will not make much difference as the notice was served. He further submits that the notice was duly received and mere fact that the police station was wrongly shown does not make any difference. He further submits that presumption of the General Clauses Act and Section 94 of the NI Act shall come into play, which draws a presumption of service of notice. He further submits that alongwith the original complaint under Section 138 of the NI Act, an affidavit was also attached with the complaint under Section 138. Therefore, the Trial Court has taken the cognizance on the basis of such affidavit, which is recorded in its order sheet and hence the taking of cognizance cannot be faulted with at the instance of the petitioner.
5. I have gone through the documents. I have examined the papers of criminal complaint, which is filed and the orders passed by the Trial Court. A perusal of the order sheet of the learned Court below shows that the complainant alongwith his memo of complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act had already attached an affidavit and the documents as per the list on 17-8-2009. Subsequently, the learned Court below on 31-8-2009 after exa