Modi Cements Ltd vs. Shri Kuchil Kumar Nandi, (1998) 3 SCC 249 Hon'ble Supreme Court
Date of Judgment: 02nd March 1998
ISSUE
Whether mere endorsement of the Bank "payment stopped" is sufficient to entertain the complaint u/s 138 of NI Act?
PROVISIONS INVOLVED
Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act,1881
Section 13 of the Negotiable Instruments Act defines negotiable instruments as "a promissory note, bills of exchange or cheque payable either to order or to bearer".
A negotiable instrument is a kind of document that guarantees its bearer a sum of money to be payable on demand or at any future date.
Section 138 of the NI Act is a penal provision that deals with the punishment of dishonour of cheque.
Dishonour of cheque is not an offence in itself but to become an offence, the following ingredients should be there:
1. There should be a drawer that draws the cheque.
2. The cheque drawn should be in discharge of some liability.
3. Presentation of the cheque to the drawee bank.
4. The cheque returned by the bank unpaid on account of insufficient funds.
5. The cheque should be presented within six months from the date on which it was drawn or within the period of its validity, whichever is earlier.
6. Within thirty days of receiving a memo of return from the bank, a notice should be served to demand the payment of the said money.
7. The drawer fails to pay the said money within 15 days of the receipt of the said notice.
It is to be noted here that if the drawer pays the debt within 15 days, there would be no offence.
The offence is said to be committed under Section 138 of the NI Act, only when he fails to pay the debt within 15 days and such person shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may be extended to two years, or with a fine which may extend to twice the amount of the cheque, or with both.
Section 142 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 states the cognizance of offences
It states that without regarding anything contained in the CPC, 1973-
It states that no Court shall take any notice of any offence which is regarded punishable under the provisions mentioned in Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 unless in a complaint which is in writing made by the holder of the cheque.
It states that any such complaint which is made within 30 days of the date on which the cause of such action arises under the provisions contained in Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
It further states that no Court which is inferior to the Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence which is punishable under the provisions laid down in Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
SECTION 482 OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE
482. Saving of inherent powers of High Court. Nothing in this Code shall be deemed to limit or affect the inherent powers of the High Court to make such orders as may be necessary to give effect to any order under this Code, or to prevent abuse of the process of any Court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice.
FACT OF THE CASE
1. The present proceedings arise out of a complaint filed by the appellant in the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Calcutta under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1981 against the respondent.
2. The appellant company is a public limited company manufacturing and selling cement under the brand name "Modi Cement" throughout India.
3. The respondent/accused carries on business in the name and style of "Dubey Construction, M/s Nandi Traders, M/s Nandi Concerns, M/s Nandi and Co., M/s Nandi Enterprises, M/s S.K. Enterprises, M/s S.K. Trading and M/s Jupitor Art. The respondent/accused is sole proprietor of all these business concerns.
4. It is alleged by the appellant in the complaint that the respondent purchased from them non-levy Modi Cement on credit against the orders placed on behalf of his concerns. These orders were placed by the respondent with the Calcutta office of the appellant and it was agreed that the price of the consignments was to be paid by the respondent at the said office.
5. After taking accounts it was found that on 23.2.1994 the respondent incurred a liability/debt of Rs. 1,10,53,520.30 payable to the appellant towards the purchased price of the cement supplied by them to the respondent. In partial discharge of the said liability/debt the respondent drew three cheques in favour of the appellant on 23.2.94, 26.2.94 and 28.2.94 bearing cheque Nos. 1308340- 42 for a sum of Rs.2,00,000/- each.
6. The appellant presented these three cheques on 9.8.1994 for encashment through their bankers. Bank of India, J.L. Nehru Road Branch, Calcutta. On 6.9.94 the Indian Bank Bankura, the Banker of the respondent returned the said cheques as unpaid with an endorsements "payment stopped by the drawer".
7. Later-on it transpired that vide his letter dated 8.8.94 the respondent had given such instruction.
8. The appellant on 13.9.94 sent a legal notice in terms of Section 138 of the Act to the respondent demanding payment of the aforesaid amounts under the cheques. The said notice was duly served on the respondent on 17.9.94.
9. Since the respondent failed and neglected to make the payment of the amount of the aforesaid three cheques within the stipulated period of 15 days which expired on 2.10.94, the appellant filed three criminal complaints against the respondent under Section 138 of the Act.
10. After entering appearance in obedience to the processes issued in connection with the above three cases the respondent filed applications for staying the proceedings which were rejected.
11. The respondent then filed three petitions under Section 482 Cr.P.C. in the High Court of Calcutta for quashing the complaints.
12. The Learned Single Judge vide his common Judgment and order dated 21.11.96 allowed the petitions of the respondent and quashed the complaints.
13. It is against this order passed by the High Court the appellant has filed these appeals.
BRIEFLY STATED THE REASONS GIVEN BY THE HIGH COURT ARE AS UNDER
(i) The appellant has not pleaded in his complaint that the cheques were 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. The necessary ingredients of Section 138 of the Act having not been pleaded the Court could not have taken cognisance of the offence.
(ii) Mere endorsement of the Bank "payment stopped" was not sufficient to entertain the complaint as that was not an ingredient of the offence under Section 138 of the Act.
The High Court has laid much stress in its judgment to emphasise that a petition under Section 482 Cr. P.C. is tenable when no offence even prima facie was made out in the complaint. There can be no dispute regarding that legal proposition but the application thereof will depend upon the averment made in the complaint.
But the second reasoning of the High Court is contrary to the decision of this Court (rendered by a Bench of two Judges) in Electronics Trade & Technology Development Corporation Ltd., Secunderabad vs. Indian Technologists & Engineers (Electronics) (P) Ltd., & & Anr. 1996 (2) SCC 739. While interpreting Section 138 of the Act, it firstly observed as under:
"It would thus be clear that when a cheque is drawn by a person on an account maintained by him with the banker for payment of any amount of money to another person out of the account for the discharge of the debt in whole or in part or other liability is returned by the bank with the endorsement like
(1) in this case, "refer to the drawer"
(2) "instructions for stoppage of payment" and stamped
(3) " exceeds arrangement", it amounts to dishonor within the meaning of Section 138 of the Act.
On issuance of the notice by the payee or the holder in due course after dishonor, to the drawer demanding payment within 15 days from the date of the receipt of such a notice. if he does to pay the same, the statutory presumption of dishonest intention, subject to any other liability, stands satisfied".
In Electronics Trade and Technology Development Corpn. Ltd., vs. Indian Technologists and Engineers (Electronics) (P) Ltd as given above - it was held that that even if a cheque is dishonored because of `stop payment' instruction to the bank, Section 138 would get attracted.
In the same case it was also held by the court that- "Suppose after the cheque is issued to the payee or to the holder in due course and before it is presented for encashment, notice is issued to him not to present the same for encashment and yet the payee or holder in due course presents the cheque to the bank for payment and when it is returned on instructions Section 138 does not get attracted".
It been took up for consideration a similar contention advanced before them by the Learned Counsel for the drawer of the cheques that stoppage of payment due to instructions does not amount to an offence under Section 138 of the Act and repelling the same observed,
"We find no force in the contention. The object of bringing Section 138 on the Statute appears to be to inculcate faith in the efficacy of banking operations and credibility in transacting business on negotiable instruments........".
The Court further observed,".............. it is seen that once the cheque had been drawn and issued to the payee and the payee has presented the cheque and thereafter, if any instructions are issued to the bank for non-payment and the cheque is returned to the payee with such an endorsement, it amounts to dishonor of cheque and it comes within the meaning of Section 138".
Section 139 - Presumption in favour of holder :- it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that the holder of a cheque received the cheque, of the nature referred to in Section 138 for the discharge, in whole or in part, of any debt or to her liability".
THE APEX COURT OBSERVATIONS
1. Once the cheque is issued by the drawer a presumption under Section 139 must follow and merely because the drawer issues a notice to the payee or to the Bank for stoppage of the payment it will not preclude an action under Section 138 of the Act by the drawer or the holder of a cheque in due course.
2. The object of Chapter XVII, which is intituled as "OF PENALTIES IN CASE OF DISHONOR OF CERTAIN CHEQUES FOR INSUFFICIENCY OF FUNDS IN THE ACCOUNTS" and contains Sections 138 to 142, is to promote the efficacy of banking operations and to ensure credibility in transacting business through cheques. It is for this reason we are of the considered view that the observations of this Court in Electronics Trade & Technology Development Corporation Ltd., Secunderabad (supra) in paragraph 6 to the effect "Suppose after the cheque is issued to the payee or to the holder in due course and before it is presented for encashment, notice is issued to him not to present the same for encashment and yet the payee or holder in due course presents the cheque to the bank for payment and when it is returned on instructions. Section 138 does not get attracted", does not fit in with the object and purpose for which the above chapter has been brought on the Statute Book.
3. The above view had been referred to in K.K. Sidharthan (supra) as is clear from Paras 5 and 6 of the Judgment.
Paras 5 and 6 read as under:-
"5. The above apart, through in the aforesaid case this Court held that even "stop payment" instruction would attract the mischief of Section 138, it has been observed in para 6, that if "after the cheque is issued to the payee or to the holder in due course and before it is presented for encashment, notice is issued to him not to present the same for encashment and yet the payee or holder in due course present the cheque to the bank for payment and when it is returned on instruction, Section 138 does not get attracted".
"6. From the facts mentioned above.
We are satisfied that in the present case cheques were presented after the appellant had directed its bank to "stop payment". We have said `so because though it has been averred in the complaint that the cheque dated 10-10-1994 was presented for collection on that date itself through the bank of the respondent which is Catholic Syrian Bank Ltd., from the aforesaid letter of the Indian overseas Branch, we find that the cheque was presented on 15.10.1994 (in clearing). The lawyer's notice to the respondent being of 4th October, which had been replied on 12th from Cochi, which is the place of the respondent, whereas the Advocate who issued notice on behalf of the appellant was at Thrissur, it would seem to us that the first cheque had even been presented after the instruction of "stop payment" issued by the appellant had become known to the respondent".
With the above observations, the complaint under Section 138 of the Act was quashed.
4. The aforesaid propositions in both these reported judgments, in our considered view, with great respect are contrary to the spirit and object of Sections 138 and 139 of the Act. If we are to accept this proposition it will make Section 138 a dead letter, for, by giving instructions to the Bank to stop payment immediately after issuing a cheque against a debt or liability the drawer can easily get rid of the penal consequences notwithstanding the fact that a deemed offence was committed.
Further the following observations in para 6 in Electronics Trade & Technology Development Corporation Ltd., Secunderabad (supra). "........... Section 138 of the Act intended to prevent dishonesty on the part of the drawer of negotiable instrument to draw a cheque without sufficient funds in his account maintained by him in a bank and induce the payee or holder in due course to act upon it. Section 138 dress presumption that one commits the offence if he issues the cheque dishonestly" in our opinion, do not also lay down the law correctly.
5. Section 138 of the Act is a penal provision wherein if a person draws a cheque on an account maintained by him with the 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, on the ground either because of the amount of money standing to the credit of that account is insufficient to honor 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.
6. The distinction between the deeming provision and the presumption is well discernible. To illustrate, if a person, draws a cheque with no sufficient funds available to his credit on the date of issue, but makes the arrangement or deposited the amount thereafter before the cheque is out in the bank by the drawer, and the cheque is honored, in such a situation drawing of presumption of dishonesty on the part of the drawer under Section 138 would not be justified. Section 138 of the Act gets attracted only when the cheque is dishonored.
7. On careful reading of Section 138 of the Act, we are unable to subscribe to the view that Section 138 of the Act draws presumption of dishonesty against drawer of the cheque if he without sufficient funds to his credit in his bank account to honor the cheque issues the same and, therefore, amounts to an offence under Section 138 of the Act. For the persons stated hereinabove, we are unable to share the views expressed by this Court in the above two cases and we respectfully differ with the same regarding interpretation of Section 138 of the Act of the limited extent as indicated above.
8. It is needless to emphasize that the Court taking cognizance of the complaint under Section 138 of the Act is required to be satisfied as to whether a prima facie case is made out under the said provision. The drawer of the cheque undoubtedly gets an opportunity under Section 139 of the Act to rebut the presumption at the trial. It is for this reason we are of the considered opinion that the complaints of the appellant could not have been dismissed by the High Court at the threshold.
9. In the result the appeals succeed and the common order dated 21.11.96 passed by the High Court in Criminal Revision Petition Nos. 2303-2304 of 1995 is quashed and set aside and the order passed by the Metropolitan Magistrate 11th Court. Calcutta on 6.4.95 is restored. It is made clear that all contentions are kept open.
CONCLUSION
A well appreciated and welcome decision from the Apex Court in which court held that the object of Chapter XVII, which is intituled as "OF PENALTIES IN CASE OF DISHONOUR OF CERTAIN CHEQUES FOR INSUFFICIENCY OF FUNDS IN THE ACCOUNTS" and contains Sections 138 to 142, is to promote the efficacy of banking operations and to ensure credibility in transacting business through cheques. If a person in genuine transaction issued cheque to discharge his/her liability and has instructed his/her bank before submission of the cheque by the payee or holder in due course to " Stop Payment", his/her act is liable to be proceeded under provisions of Section 138 of the NIA,1881. The provisions of Section 138 get attracted only when cheque is dishonoured. It means that instruction of " Stoppage" of cheque by drawer to his banker before deposit of cheque by the payee or holder in due court amounts to criminal act under provisions of Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
DISCLAIMER: The case law produced here is only for sharing information and knowledge in readers. The views expressed here are the personal views of the author and same should not be considered as professional advice. In case of necessity do consult with consultants for more clarity and understanding on subject matter.
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