SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2017 Supreme(Ker) 1433

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
ALEXANDER THOMAS, J.
Mathew - Petitioner
Versus
State of Kerala - Respondent
Crl. M.C. No.4884 of 2017 & connected cases
Decided On : 29-08-2017

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner: James Mathew Kadavan
For the Respondent: Sr. Government Pleader (Saigi Jacob Palatty), Harisankar V. Menon & L. Rajesh Narayan, P.G. Jayasankar As Amicus Curiae

Headnote:Negotiable Instruments Act 1881, Ss.138 & 141, Criminal P.C. 1973, S.421 - Cooperative Societies Act 1969 (Kerala), Ss. 7 & 9 - President cannot be made to suffer substantive sentence, default sentence nor can be made to suffer any fine that is imposed on the society Even if society is convicted in the case only a senten ce of fine could be imposed against the society, which could be realized from the assets of society.

ORDER :

1. The prayers in this Crl.M.Cs are for orders from this Court to quash the respective complaints impugned in this cases, to the extent it affects the petitioner herein. The complaints in Crl.M.C.Nos.4884, 4893 and 4888 are those in S.T.Nos.811, 815 and 816/2016 on the file of Judicial First Class Magistrate Court I, Kanjirappally, which has been instituted by the 2nd respondent (company) herein.

2. The gist of the allegations of those complaints are that in discharge of a total liability of Rs.12,39,384/- owed by the 1st accused/Co-operative society to the respondent complainant, cheques dated 18.06.2014 for Rs.5,00,000/-, Rs.5,00,000/- and Rs.2,39,384/- respectively were drawn from the account of the said Co-operative society (accused No.1) payable in favour of the complainant and that those cheques when presented were dishonoured on 30.09.2014, on the ground of insufficiency of funds. It is further averred in the complaints produced as Annexure-A2 in these three cases, that accused Nos.2 and 3 (respondents 3 and 4 herein), were the managing director and the marketing manager of the 1st accused/Co-operative society at the relevant time and that the cheques were drawn and executed in favour of the complainant as per the instructions of the petitioner, who was then the president of the 1st accused/Co-operative society and that the accused Nos.2 and 3 (respondents 3 and 4), were the signatories of the above said three dishonoured cheques. The three cheques in question have been produced as Annexure-A1 in these three petitions. It is further averred in these complaints that the day today affairs and the management of the business of the 1st accused/Co-operative society which was under the supervision and control of the petitioner, who was the then president of the Co-operative society, was being exercised by the petitioner for and on behalf of the executive committee of the said Society in his capacity as the president of the Co-operative society and further that the accused Nos.2 and 3, who are then the managing director and marketing manager of the society were also actively involved in the management of the Co-operative society etc. However, it is relevant to note that the petitioner in his individual capacity as the then president of the Co-operative society has not been arrayed separately as a co-accused in these three complaints. 1st accused is the Co-operative society concerned (Kaduthuruthy Co-operative Rubber Marketing and Processing Society Ltd. No.1397), represented by Sri. P.M. Mathew, Ex. M.L.A., aged about 60, President, Kaduthuruthy Co-operative Rubber Marketing and Processing Society Ltd. No.1397, Kaduthuruthy P.O., Kottayam-686 604. Accused Nos.2 and 3 are respondents 3 and 4, viz. Sri.S.Muraleedharan, the then managing director and Sri.K.C.George, the marketing manager of the above said Co-operative society. The cause title of all the three complaints are identically worded and for the sake of proper appreciation of the factual aspects in that regard, it will be appropriate to replicate the cause title of one such complaint, as given in Malayalam language in the said complaint, which reads as follows:-

XXX XXX XXX

The English translation of the said cause title, reads as follows:-

Complainant:

Thomson Rubbers (India) Private Limited,

Karuvamoozhi, Erumely, Kottayam District,

Pin - 686 509,

Represented by its Accounts Manager,

Sinosh Sebastian, S/O. Sebastian,

Oottukalathil House, Mukkuttuthara, Kollamula Kara, Kollamula Village, Pathanamthitta District.

Accused;

1. Kaduthuruthy Co-Operative Rubber Marketing And Processing Society Ltd.

No.1397, Represented By Sri. P.M. Mathew,

Ex.M.La., Aged About 60, President,

Kaduthuruthy Co-Operative Rubber Marketing And Processing Society Ltd.

No.1397, Kaduthuruthy P.O., Kottayam-686 604.

2. S.Muraleedharan, Aged About 55,

Managing Director, Kaduthuruthy

Co-Operative Rubber Marketing And Processing Society Ltd. No.1397, Kaduthuruthy P.O., Kottayam - 686 604.

3. K.C.George, Aged About 50



































































Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Judicial Analysis

SupremeToday

SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top