IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
Sonia Gokani, J.
Mukundlal Mohanlal Gandhi - Applicant
Versus
State of Gujarat and Others - Respondents
Criminal Revision Application (Against Conviction -Negotiable Instrument Act) No. 576 of 2014
Decided On : 30-7-2015
Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 357(3) - Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881- Section 138 - Dishonour of cheque - Death of complainant during pendency - His son can be impleaded as complainant - Accused can be convicted if son was able to prove that cheque was issued by accused in discharge of legally recoverable debt - Accused convicted and sentenced to one year S.I and to pay fine - Held, Order of payment of fine set aside - Instead accused directed to pay compensation of sum with 9% interest from the date of filing of the complaint before the trial Court - Section 138 has three ingredients i.e. (1) that there is a legally enforceable debt; (2) that the cheque was drawn from the account of the Bank for discharge in whole or in part of any debt or other liability which presupposes a legally enforceable debt; and (iii) that the cheque is issued had been returned due to insufficiency of funds - 2008 (1) RCR (Civil) 498 : 2008 (1) RCR (Crl.) 695 : 2008 (1) RAJ 279 Relied - Conviction of accused - Grant of compensation to complainant - Amount could be upto double the cheque amount - Revision Application stands disposed of.
Sonia Gokani, J.
By way of present Revision Application preferred by the applicant under section 397 read with section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the applicant has challenged the legality and validity of the judgment and order of conviction and sentence dated March 05, 2012 rendered by the learned 11th Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Vadodara, in Criminal Case No.1817 of 1999, as also the judgment and order dated August 20, 2014 rendered by the learned 3rd Additional District and Sessions Judge, Vadodara in Criminal Appeal No.36 of 2012, whereby the learned Judge has confirmed the judgment and order of conviction and sentence passed by the trial Court, whereby the trial Court convicted the applicant for the offence punishable under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') and sentenced him to undergo simple imprisonment for one year and a fine of Rs.5000/-, in default to undergo simple imprisonment for 15 days.
2. The facts in brief are as under :-
2.1 The respondent No.2 complainant is in the business of trading in edible oil, who supplied oil to the applicant convict. Three cheques were given to the respondent No.2 complainant by the applicant, the details of which are as under:
Sr. No. Cheque No. Cheque Date Amount Drawn on
1. 087717 03.05.1999 Rs. 45,000/- The Baroda Traders Co. Op. Bank Ltd., Hathikhana, Fatepura, Vadodara
2. 0384621 07.05.1999 Rs. 35,000/- Patani Co. Op. Bank Ltd., Harni Road Branch, Vadodara
3. 38473 07.05.1999 Rs. 35,700/- Patani Co. Op. Bank Ltd., Harni Road Branch, Vadodara
2.2 When presented before the Bank, the said cheques came to be dishonoured on account of insufficiency of funds on June 03, 1999. The intimation was given to the respondent No.2 complainant by the Bank in that respect of June 04, 1999, and, therefore, a demand notice came to be issued on June 11, 1999. On June 28, 1999, a reply was given to the show cause notice, which was averred to be evasive. A complaint, therefore, came to be filed. After adducing evidence and on giving ample opportunities to both the sides, the Court concluded that the charge having been proved, the applicant is held guilty under section 138 of the Act vide its judgment and order dated March 05, 2012. The very judgment and order of conviction and sentence was challenged before the lower Appellate forum by way of Criminal Appeal No.36 of 2012, which ultimately came to be confirmed by the Appellate Forum. It is urged that the original complainant has died and, therefore, his son has been replaced as impleaded as a complainant, who had no personal knowledge of the business of his late father. The other heirs were not joined. When the person who had no knowledge of the actual transaction had stepped into the witness box, on strength of such evidence, he did not discharge initial burden of proving the legally enforceable debt. It is further averred that when the purchase of the goods namely oil is disputed, no record of transaction can be proved and, therefore, the entire judgment and order is based on assumptions and presumptions. Moreover, the applicant is categorical that he has not given any reply to the notice. Even in his further statement under section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, he has stated so, however, the Court has yet believed that the notice has been issued and, therefore, the wrong has been committed. Hence, present Revision Application.
3. A fortiori, Shri S.P. Hasurkar, learned counsel appearing for the applicant-convict has urged that unless the respondent No.2 complainant discharges his liability of proving that there existed the legally enforceable debt, the Court could not be proceeded further and invoked presumption provided under section 139 of the Act. It is his say that the complainant knew nothing about his father's business and, therefore, his answers very clearly indicated that he had no knowledge at all whether any stock of oil had been supplie
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