ABHAY S. OKA, J. 1. The issue involved in this criminal appeal is whether the provision of sub-section (1) of Section 143A of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (for short, ‘the N.I. Act’), which provides for the grant of interim compensation, is directory or mandatory. If it is held to be a directory provision, the question that arises is, what are factors to be considered while exercising powers under sub-section (1) of Section 143A of the N.I. Act. FACTUAL ASPECTS The case of the 2^nd respondent in the Complaint 2. The 2nd respondent (hereinafter referred as ‘the respondent’) is the complainant in a complaint under Section 138 of the N.I. Act. The complaint was filed in the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate at Bokaro. The case in the complaint is that the appellant and the respondent formed various Digitally signed by ASHISH KONDLE Date: 2024.03.15 16:34:53 IST Reason:

Signature Not Verified companies on different terms and conditions regarding profit sharing. On 23rd September 2011, an appointment letter was issued by the appellant in his capacity as the Managing Director of the company M/s Thermotech Synergy Pvt. Ltd. and on behalf of a proprietary c