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2014 DIGILAW 1558 (DEL)

IND Synergy Ltd. v. Goyal Mg Gases Pvt. Ltd.

2014-05-16

V.P.VAISH

body2014
ORDER : V.P. Vaish, J. 1. By way of the present petitions, the petitioners challenged impugned order dated 23.4.2013 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge-02. South East, Saket Courts, Delhi whereby Criminal Revision Petition No. 52/12 filed by the petitioners against the summoning order dated 17.3.2012 passed by learned Metropolitan Magistrate, Saket Courts, Delhi for the offence u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act was dismissed. Learned Counsel for the petitioners submits that the cheque was dishonoured for the reason 'Payment Stopped By Attachment Order' and, therefore, provisions of Sections 138/141 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 are not attracted. 2. Learned Counsel for both the parties have informed that notice u/s 251 of the Cr. P.C. in all the complaints has not been given and hearing on framing of notice is yet to take place. 3. After hearing learned Counsel for both the parties and upon perusal of record, this Court is of the opinion that inherent power of this Court u/s 482 of the Cr. P.C. are not required to be invoked to quash the proceedings arising out of the complaint in question, in view of the dictum of the Apex Court in Bhushan Kumar and Another Vs. State (NCT of Delhi) and Another, AIR 2012 SC 1747 , the relevant para 20 of the judgment reads as under: "20. It is inherent in Section 251 of the Code that when an accused appears before the trial Court pursuant to summons issued u/s 204 of the Code in a summons trial case, it is the bounden duty of the trial Court to carefully go through the allegations made in the charge-sheet or complaint and consider the evidence to come to a conclusion whether or not, commission of any offence is disclosed and if the answer is in the affirmative, the Magistrate shall explain the substance of the accusation to the accused and ask him whether he pleads guilty otherwise, he is bound to discharge the accused as per Section 239 of the Code." 4. Further, in another case Krishna Kumar Variar Vs. Share Shoppe, (2010) 12 SCC 485 , it was observed: "4. In our opinion, in such cases where the accused or any other person raises an objection that the trial Court has no jurisdiction in the matter, the said person should file an application before the Trial Court making this averment and giving the relevant facts. Share Shoppe, (2010) 12 SCC 485 , it was observed: "4. In our opinion, in such cases where the accused or any other person raises an objection that the trial Court has no jurisdiction in the matter, the said person should file an application before the Trial Court making this averment and giving the relevant facts. Whether a Court has jurisdiction to try/entertain a case will, at least in part, depend upon the facts of the case. Hence, instead of rushing to the higher Court against the summoning order, the person concerned should approach the trial Court with a suitable application for this purpose and the trial Court should after hearing both the sides and recording evidence, if necessary, decide the question of jurisdiction before proceeding further with the case. 5. For the reasons stated hereinabove, the impugned judgment and order is set aside and the appeal is allowed. The appellant, if so advised, may approach the trial Court with a suitable application in this connection and, if such an application is filed, the trial Court shall after hearing both the sides and after recording evidence on the question on jurisdiction, shall decide the question of jurisdiction before further proceeding with the trial." 5. In view of the authoritative pronouncement of the Apex Court in Bhushan Kumar's case (supra) and Krishna Kumar Variar's case (supra), and in view of the ground reality that this Court is being clogged by filing such petitions, it is the need of the hour to direct the petitioner to approach trial Court, so that such petitioners instead of straightaway rushing this Court ought to seek dropping of the proceedings by the trial Court to ensure that summary trial in such like matters does not get unnecessarily delayed. 6. Accordingly, the petitioners are relegated to trial Court to urge all the pleas taken for herein before learned trial Court at the time of hearing on notice u/s 251 of Cr. P.C. In case, the petitioners raise the pleas before the trial Court, the trial Court shall consider the same in accordance with law and pass a speaking order. It is settled law that the trial Court is not expected to function like post office and to mechanically frame notice, but is bound by law to apply its mind to find out whether prima facie case is made out against accused or not. 7. It is settled law that the trial Court is not expected to function like post office and to mechanically frame notice, but is bound by law to apply its mind to find out whether prima facie case is made out against accused or not. 7. Needless to say, if trial Court finds that no case is made out against the petitioners, then Apex Court decision in Adalat Prasad Vs. Rooplal Jindal and Others, (2004) 7 SCC 338 will not stand in the way of the petitioners. Till the trial Court passes an order regarding framing of notice u/s 251, Cr. P.C. personal appearance of the petitioners be not insisted upon subject to the condition that the petitioners are duly represented by Counsel who does not seek adjournment. All the petitions are disposed of accordingly. Crl. M.A. No. 16899/2013 in Crl. M.C. No. 4705/2013 Crl. M.A. No. 16945/2013 in Crl. M.C. No. 4723/2013 Crl. M.A. No. 16947/2013 in Crl. M.C. No. 4724/2013 In view of the above, the applications are dismissed as in-fructuous.