The central legal point established in the judgment is that a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act is not maintainable if filed before the expiry of the prescribed 15-day period for the drawer of the cheque to make the payment to the payee.

ORDER

1. This appeal has been filed by the appellant/complainant under Section 378 of Cr.P.C. against the judgment dated 24.12.2021 passed by the JMFC, Gwalior, in Criminal Case No.1108/2012 whereby respondent has been acquitted of the offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.

2. In brief facts of the case are that respondent was in need of money for purchasing the house, therefore, he borrowed a sum of Rs.7,00,000/- on 18.9,2008 and thereafter on various dates a sum of Rs.4,50,000/-, thus, he borrowed a total sum of Rs.11,50,000/- with the assurance that he will refund the aforesaid amount very soon. But when the respondent did not refund the amount even after expiry of period as assured by him, appellant demanded the amount, then cheque No.577406 dated 24.5.2011 of State Bank of India Branch Malroad Morar worth Rs.11,50,000/- was given by the respondent. The said cheque was dishonoured on its presentation on 25.5.2011 with the note that cheque could not be encashed due to insufficient fund. Thereafter on 23.6.2011 he sent a registered notice to the respondent. Even after receipt of the notice, respondent did not pay the amount. Therefore, he filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and adduced his evidence in support of the complaint.

3. Learned trial Court vide impugned judgment para 39 observed that there is no evidence as to whether notice issued to the respondent has been served on him or not, but as per the provisions of Order 5 Rule 9(5) of CPC as the acknowledge of said registered notice has not been received back within 30 days, it is presumed that notice has been served. Thus, notice dated 23.6.2011 has been presumed to be served on the respondent on 23.7.2011. Thereafter he has filed the complaint on 3.8.2011 before expiry of period of 15 days so prescribed under Section 138(c) of the Negotiable Instrument Act for the drawer of the cheque to make the payment to the payee, and therefore, the complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act was not found maintainable and respondent was acquitted.

4. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.

5. Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act reads as under :-

"138 Dishonour of cheque for insufficiency, etc., of funds in the account. A'Where any cheque drawn by a person on an account maintained by him with a banker for payment of any amount of money to another person from out of that account for the discharge, in whole or in part, of any debt or other liability, is returned by the bank unpaid, either because of the amount of money standing to the credit of that account is insufficient to honour the cheque or that it exceeds the amount arranged to be paid from that account by an agreement made with that bank, such person shall be deemed to have committed an offence and shall, without prejudice to any other provisions of this Act, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may be extended to two years, or with fine which may extend to twice the amount of the cheque, or with both:

Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply unless-

(a) to (b) ..

(c) the drawer of such cheque fails to make the payment of the said amount of money to the payee or, as the case may be, to the holder in due course of the cheque, within fifteen days of the receipt of the said notice."

6. In the present case, it is clear that appellant has filed the complaint on 3.8.2011 before expiry of period of 15 days as prescribed for the drawer of such cheque to make the payment to the payee.

7. The Supreme Court of India in the case of Yogendra Pratap Singh vs. Savitri Pandey & Anr. decided on 19.9.2014 in Criminal Appeal No. 605/2012 has held in para 37 as under :-

"37- A complaint filed before expiry of 15 days from the date ' ' on which notice has been served on drawer/accused cannot be said to disclose the cause of action in terms of clause (c) of the proviso to Section 138 and upon such complaint which does not disc