M/S Sukant Papers vs Om Prakash Jain & Anr.
2010 Latest Caselaw 5750 Del

               *         IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI


                                                          Date of Reserve: 28th October, 2010

                                 Date of Order: December 20, 2010

                                   + Crl. Appeal No.437/2002
%                                                                              20.12.2010
         M/s Sukant Papers                                            ...Petitioner

         Versus

         Om Prakash Jain & Anr.                                       ...Respondents

Counsels:

Mr. Vijay Kumar Jain for petitioners.
Mr. JP Verma for respondents


         JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA

1.       Whether reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment?      Yes.

2.       To be referred to the reporter or not?                                     Yes.

3.       Whether judgment should be reported in Digest?                             Yes.


                                            JUDGMENT

1. By this appeal under Section 374 Cr.P.C, the appellant has assailed his

conviction under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act and order on sentence

whereby he was sentenced to a fine of Rs.40,000/-, in default of payment of fine, to

undergo rigorous imprisonment for three months. Out of Rs.40,000/-, Rs.35,000/- was to

be paid to the complainant as compensation.

2. The complaint against the petitioner was filed by the respondent/ complainant

under Section 138 of NI Act as a cheque of Rs.25,000/- issued by the appellant was

dishonoured and despite service of demand notice, the appellant failed to pay the

amount. The complainant had examined himself and clerk of Dena Bank and proved

issuance of cheque against supply of goods and dishonour of cheque. The notice of

Crl. Appeal 437/2002 Page 1 Of 3 demand was proved as Ex.PW3/B. The postal receipt of notice is Ex.PW3/C and the

acknowledgment received back showing receipt of notice as Ex.PW3/F. The appellant

had not denied issuance of cheque and dishonour of cheque. He had not taken any

defence at the time of accepting notice and simply pleaded not guilty. During cross

examination, various defences were tried. One of the defences was that no goods were

supplied despite assurance. The second defence was that the cheque was without

consideration. The third was that the cheque was issued against membership of chit

fund. The dishonoured memo showed that the cheque was issued by the appellant on a

closed account. The learned trial court (in this case, the trial court was court of Sessions

since by an administrative order of High Court, for some time, cases under Section 138

N I Act were sent for trial to the court of Sessions) held that even if the cheque was

issued on a closed account, the provisions of Section 138 NI Act would be applicable

and the offence under Section 138 was made out and convicted the appellant.

3. The counsel for the appellant argued that it was in the knowledge of complainant

that the cheque was of a closed account since the earlier cheque issued by the appellant

had come back with a dishonour memo saying that the account was closed. The second

cheque was put by the complainant in the bank despite knowing that the account was

closed and, therefore, no offence under Section 138 NI Act was made out.

4. It is submitted by the counsel for the appellant that Section 138 envisages that at

the time of issuance of cheque, the account maintained by the accused should be a 'live'

account. The counsel for the appellant argued that that 'the account maintained' only

means that the 'account being maintained' on the date of issuance of cheque and if the

cheque was issued on a closed account, section 138 would not be attracted. I consider

that this interpretation given by the counsel for the appellant of section 138 is not a

correct interpretation. In commercial transactions, cheques are exchanged in lieu of

Crl. Appeal 437/2002 Page 2 Of 3 liabilities and are frequently given against the purchase of goods etc on the trust that the

cheque would be encashed and it was a valid negotiable instrument. At the time when

cheque is given by a person to another, the giver of cheque gives it as a valid negotiable

instrument. If the cheque is given against a closed account, the holder of the cheque, to

whom the cheque is given cannot be penalized for this dishonesty of the issuer of the

cheque and it cannot be said that Section 138 would not be attracted. The words "on an

account maintained by him" cannot be read as "on an account being maintained by him".

The word "an account maintained by him" implies that the account was opened by him

and for operation of the account of cheque book was issued to him.

5. I, therefore, find no force in the arguments advanced by the counsel for appellant.

I consider that the appellant in the present case had no defence at all. He did not take

the defence at the time of accepting notice. He did not lead defence evidence after

statement under Section 281 Cr.P.C. The defence taken in statement under Section 281

or 313 Cr.P.C cannot be given a status of evidence. Any statement under Section 281

and 313 Cr.P.C cannot be considered by the court as defence evidence. The stand

taken under Section 281 or 313 Cr.P.C has to be proved by a person by cogent

evidence. The appeal is hereby dismissed with costs of Rs.35,000/- to be payable by the

appellant to the respondent.

December 20, 2010                                 SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA, J
rd




Crl. Appeal 437/2002                                                               Page 3 Of 3