1. All these petitions give rise to common questions of law and, therefore, are being decided by this common order. The petitioner had instituted nine criminal complaints in the court of the Metropolitan Magistrate alleging offences punishable under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (N.I. Act) against the private party respondents respecting different cheques – they having been registered as Criminal Complaint Nos.1650/13, 6049/13, 1654/13, 1652/13, 6047/13, 1647/13, 1651/13, 1645/13, 5729/13. The Metropolitan Magistrate, by his orders dated 25.09.2014 and 30.10.2014, had directed return of the said complaints on the ground of want of territorial jurisdiction in view of the ruling of the Supreme Court reported as Dashrath Rupsingh Rathod v. State of Maharashtra & Anr., (2014) 9 SCC 129.

2. Later, the law was amended and the question of jurisdiction in such matters is now regulated by newly inserted Section 142(2) and Section 142A of the N.I. Act, in terms of which, the petitioner contends, the Metropolitan Magistrate at New Delhi would continue to have the necessary jurisdiction.

3. Referring to the amendment in law, the petitioner had moved an application befor