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2008 DIGILAW 308 (KER)

K. v. Bhavadas VS State Of Kerala, Rep. By The Public

2008-06-09

V.RAMKUMAR

body2008
Judgment : The Revision Petition is the complainant in a prosecution under Sec. 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 involving two cheques altogether for a sum of Rs. 29,000/-. The complaint was filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Manjeri and registered as C.M.P. No. 10819 of 2007. The learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, as per the impugned order dated 13-3-2008 dismissed the complaint mainly for the reason that there was no demand for the amount covered by the dishonoured cheques and that if at all there was a demand in the lawyer notice it was only for the amount under the original transaction. 2. I am afraid that I cannot agree with the above view taken by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate. The Magistrate was taking a hyper-technical view of the matter. After calling for the records I perused the lawyer notice issued by the revision petitioner to the accused under Sec. 138 Cr.P.C. The notice contains a specific demand of the chque amounts after adverting to the factum of borrowal and issuance of two cheques for an amount totaling to Rs. 29,000/-. 3. Thelearned Magistrate was also wrong in dismissing the complaint under Sec. 203 Cr.P.C. at the pre-cognizance stage. If according to the Magistrate, the complaint and the supporting documents produced along with the complaint did not make out the offence alleged the only course open to the Magistrate was to reject the complaint at that stage. Dismissal of a complaint under Sec. 203 can only be at the post cognizance stage. For that reason also the impugned order is unsustainable and is accordingly set aside. 4. Sincethe dismissal of the complaint was before the issuance of process to the accused, notice to the accused in this Revision is dispensed with. In the result, this Crl.R.P. is allowed and C.M.P. No. 10819 of 2007 shall stand restored to file before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Manjeri who shall take cognizance of the offence punishable under Sec. 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The Revision Petitioner shall appear before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Manjeri on 27-6-2008 without any further notice. Transmit back the entire lower court records forthwith.