High Court
Case Details
(cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -1- (cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:9)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:9)(cid:21)(cid:18)(cid:23)(cid:21)(cid:9)(cid:1)(cid:24)(cid:25)(cid:2)(cid:20)(cid:9)(cid:24)(cid:26)(cid:9)(cid:27)(cid:25)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:29)(cid:30)(cid:9)(cid:31)(cid:9)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:2) (cid:29)(cid:19)(cid:29) (cid:29)(cid:20)(cid:9)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:19)!(cid:18)(cid:23)(cid:29)(cid:2)(cid:21) !(cid:10)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:9)(cid:14)"(cid:9)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:13)#(cid:17)#(cid:14)(cid:11)$(cid:9)(cid:4)%(cid:16)&(cid:9)’(cid:15)((cid:16)(cid:15))*(cid:15)+,(cid:9)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)- ./ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17)(cid:9) (cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 (cid:4)/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3).(cid:6)6(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) (cid:9)(cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17) (cid:8)/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)6(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17)(cid:9) (cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 %/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3).(cid:6)66(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) (cid:9)(cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17) -/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)7(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17)(cid:9) (cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 (cid:6)/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3).(cid:6)6(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) (cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ ///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ ///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ ///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ ///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ ///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ ///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -2- (cid:5)/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)6(cid:7)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17)(cid:9) (cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 6/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3).(cid:6)6-(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) (cid:9)(cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17) 7/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)6.(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17)(cid:9) (cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 .(cid:7)/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3).(cid:6)(cid:5)-(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) (cid:9)(cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17) ../ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)6(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17)(cid:9) (cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 .(cid:4)/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3).(cid:6)6(cid:5)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) (cid:9)(cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ ///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ ///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ (cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ ///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ (cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ (cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -3- .(cid:8)/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)6-(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17)(cid:9) (cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 .%/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3).(cid:6)7(cid:7)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) (cid:9)(cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17) .-/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)6(cid:5)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17)(cid:9) (cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 .(cid:6)/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3).(cid:6)(cid:5)(cid:5)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) (cid:9)(cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17) .(cid:5)/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:8).(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17)(cid:9) (cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 .6/ (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3).(cid:6)67(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8) (cid:9)(cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5 0/(cid:2)/(cid:9)(cid:30)+(cid:14)(cid:16)&(cid:15)+(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) 0(cid:15)+(cid:17)1(cid:17) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ (cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ (cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ (cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ (cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ (cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) ///(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:16)#(cid:16)#(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:15)+ (cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)///(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:17)((cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:11)(cid:16) Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -4- (cid:1)(cid:24)(cid:2)(cid:29)8$(cid:9) (cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:19)9(cid:30):(cid:22)(cid:9)8(cid:2)’/(cid:9)(cid:28)(cid:25)’(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:1)(cid:22)(cid:9)8(cid:29)(cid:19)(cid:18)’(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:9)(cid:30)(cid:29)(cid:20)(cid:2)(cid:29) (cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:8) (cid:9)(cid:3)(cid:10)(cid:1)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:13)(cid:12)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:16)(cid:5)(cid:17)(cid:12)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:11)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:22)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:21)(cid:25)(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:26)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:1) (cid:9)(cid:3)(cid:10)(cid:1)(cid:22)(cid:10)(cid:2)(cid:10)(cid:1)(cid:11)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:12)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:22)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:21)(cid:25)(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:23) (cid:9)(cid:3)(cid:10)(cid:1)(cid:22)(cid:6)(cid:27)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:28)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:12)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:22)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:21)(cid:25)(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:29)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:30)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:10) (cid:28)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:30)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:23)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:30)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:5)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:26)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:1) (cid:9)(cid:3)(cid:10)(cid:1)(cid:31)(cid:21) (cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:17)(cid:1)!(cid:21)(cid:4)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:5)(cid:10)(cid:1)(cid:22)(cid:5)(cid:17)(cid:20)"(cid:12)(cid:1)#(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:12)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:23) (cid:9)(cid:5)(cid:10)(cid:1)(cid:22)(cid:6)(cid:27)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:12)(cid:1)$(cid:12)"(cid:26)(cid:12)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:22)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:21)(cid:25)(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:10)(cid:1) %%% 8(cid:29)(cid:19)(cid:18)’(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:9)(cid:30)(cid:29)(cid:20)(cid:2)(cid:29),(cid:9)(cid:28)(cid:9);(cid:24)(cid:2)(cid:29):<$(cid:3) #(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:12)&(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:4)(cid:1)"(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:5)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:30)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:1)’(cid:21)(cid:5)(cid:10)(cid:1)(()*(cid:19)(cid:1)(()+(cid:19)(cid:1)((),(cid:19) ((+-(cid:19)(cid:1)((+.(cid:19)(cid:1)((+/(cid:19)(cid:1)((+0(cid:19)(cid:1)((+)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:23)(cid:1)(/.*(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(-(/(cid:19)(cid:1) (cid:1)(cid:17)(cid:12)(cid:24)(cid:4)(cid:1)&(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:29)(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)&(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4) (cid:25)(cid:21)"(cid:30)(cid:18)(cid:12)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:7)1(cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:2)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:6)(cid:11) (cid:4)(cid:26)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:12)(cid:5)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:5)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:30)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:1)’(cid:21)(cid:5)(cid:10)(cid:1).*)0(cid:19)(cid:1).*))(cid:19) .*+/(cid:19)(cid:1).*+0(cid:19)(cid:1).*+*(cid:19)(cid:1).*+)(cid:19)(cid:1).*++(cid:19)(cid:1).*+,(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:23)(cid:1).*,-(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(-(/(cid:1)(cid:17)(cid:12)(cid:24)(cid:4)(cid:1)&(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:29)(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)&(cid:14) (cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:25)(cid:25)(cid:16)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:19)(cid:10)2(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:9)(cid:29)33(cid:10)+4(cid:10)5(cid:1)2(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:12)(cid:29)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:1)&(cid:4)(cid:1)"(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:5)(cid:1)3(cid:12)(cid:13)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:10)(cid:15)45 (cid:12) (cid:12)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:5)(cid:7) (cid:1) (cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4) (cid:1) (cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:23) "(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:5) (cid:1) (cid:21)(cid:29) (cid:1) (cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:6) (cid:1) (cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:23) (cid:1) (cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:23)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:5) (cid:1) (cid:21)(cid:6) (cid:1) 6(cid:16)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:16)" (cid:1) (cid:21)(cid:29) (cid:1) (cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:25)(cid:4) (cid:23)(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:23) (cid:1) .0(cid:10).-(cid:10)(-., (cid:1) (cid:30)(cid:12)(cid:5)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:23) (cid:1) &(cid:14) (cid:1) (cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4) (cid:1) (cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:6)(cid:4)(cid:23) (cid:1) $(cid:16)(cid:23)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:20)(cid:12)(cid:18) (cid:1) (cid:9)(cid:12) (cid:20)(cid:5)(cid:7)(cid:3)(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:4) (cid:1) 7(cid:20)(cid:3)(cid:5)(cid:7) (cid:1) 8(cid:18)(cid:12)(cid:5)(cid:5)(cid:19) 9(cid:16)(cid:23)(cid:17)(cid:20)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:12)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:6)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:3)(cid:20)"(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:12)(cid:18)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:21)"(cid:30)(cid:18)(cid:12)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:5)(cid:1)&(cid:4)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:6) (cid:1)’(cid:21)(cid:5)(cid:10)(cid:1)+)-*(cid:19)(cid:1)+)-)(cid:19)(cid:1)+).:(cid:19)(cid:1)+).0(cid:19) +).)(cid:19) (cid:1) +).+(cid:19) (cid:1) +)(-(cid:19) (cid:1) +)(. (cid:1) (cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:23) (cid:1) +)(( (cid:1) (cid:21)(cid:29) (cid:1) (-.)(cid:19) (cid:1) (cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:23) (cid:1) (cid:12)(cid:5) (cid:1)=(cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:2) (cid:4) (cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:6)(cid:11) (cid:4) (cid:16)(cid:11)(cid:2) (cid:17)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:10)(cid:4)(cid:22)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:23)(cid:10)(cid:21)(cid:8)(cid:11)(cid:4)(cid:12)(cid:21)(cid:15)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:6)(cid:11)(cid:24)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:26)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:4)&(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:25)(cid:25)(cid:16)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:17)(cid:12)(cid:23)(cid:1)&(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:18)(cid:23)(cid:1) (cid:16)(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:7)(cid:14) (cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:29)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:21)""(cid:20)(cid:5)(cid:5)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:29)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:25)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:30)(cid:16)(cid:6)(cid:20)(cid:5)(cid:17)(cid:12)&(cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:16)(cid:6)(cid:23)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:11)(cid:4)(cid:25)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:1)./+(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29) (cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)’(cid:4) (cid:21)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:12)&(cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:1);(cid:6)(cid:5)(cid:7)(cid:3)(cid:16)"(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:5)(cid:1)(cid:22)(cid:25)(cid:7)(cid:19)(cid:1).++.(cid:1)27(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:5)(cid:17)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:19)(cid:1)3(cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)45(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:23) "(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:5) (cid:23)(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1).0(cid:10)-)(cid:10)(-(/(cid:1)(cid:30)(cid:12)(cid:5)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)&(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:6)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:22)(cid:30)(cid:30)(cid:4)(cid:18)(cid:18)(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:1)8(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:3)(cid:20)"(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:12)(cid:18)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:30)(cid:30)(cid:4)(cid:12)(cid:18)(cid:5) &(cid:4)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:6) (cid:1)8;(cid:11)(cid:1)’(cid:21)(cid:5)(cid:10)(cid:1)8(cid:28)(cid:22)1(cid:1)(+:)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(-.,(cid:19)(cid:1)(+:+(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(-.,(cid:19)(cid:1)(+0-(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(-.,(cid:19)(cid:1)(+0.(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29) (-.,(cid:19)(cid:1)(+0((cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(-.,(cid:19)(cid:1)(+00(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(-.,(cid:19)(cid:1)(+0,(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(-.,(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:23)(cid:1)(+*-(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(-.,(cid:1)(cid:29)(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)&(cid:14) (cid:12)(cid:25)(cid:25)(cid:16)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:26)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:12)(cid:5)(cid:19)(cid:1)8;(cid:11)(cid:1)’(cid:21)(cid:5)(cid:10)(cid:1)8(cid:28)(cid:22)1,(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(-(/(cid:19)(cid:1).-(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(-(/(cid:19)(cid:1).((cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(-(/(cid:19)(cid:1)./(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29) (-(/(cid:19) (cid:1) .0 (cid:1) (cid:21)(cid:29) (cid:1) (-(/(cid:19) (cid:1) .+ (cid:1) (cid:21)(cid:29) (cid:1) (-(/(cid:19) (cid:1) ., (cid:1) (cid:21)(cid:29) (cid:1) (-(/ (cid:1) (cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:23) (cid:1) (- (cid:1) (cid:21)(cid:29) (cid:1) (-(/ (cid:1) (cid:29)(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:23) (cid:1) &(cid:14) (cid:25)(cid:21)"(cid:30)(cid:18)(cid:12)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:26)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:4)&(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:23) "(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:5)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:12)(cid:18)(cid:1)8(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:26)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:29)(cid:29)(cid:20)(cid:3)"(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:26)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:17) (cid:3)(cid:4) (cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:23) (cid:1) (cid:7)(cid:21) (cid:1) (cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4) (cid:1) (cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:6) (cid:1) (cid:21)(cid:29) (cid:1) (cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4) (cid:1) (cid:12)(cid:25)(cid:25)(cid:16)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:23) (cid:1) &(cid:16)(cid:7) (cid:1) (cid:25)(cid:21)"(cid:30)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:5)(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:6) (cid:1) (cid:12)"(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:6)(cid:7) (cid:1) (cid:26)(cid:12)(cid:5) Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -5- (cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:17)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:25)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:10)(cid:1) ((cid:10) Since parties in all these revision petitions are common and these revision petitions have been filed against the same judgments and relate to cheques which were issued as part of the same transaction, and as the facts as well as questions of law involved are also the same, hence, they
Decision
have been taken up and heard together. They are being disposed of by this common judgment. 3. 7(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:5)(cid:12)(cid:27)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:16)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:25)(cid:4)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:12)(cid:29)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:30)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:4)(cid:5) (cid:5)(cid:17)(cid:12)(cid:18)(cid:18)(cid:1)&(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:29)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:5)(cid:1)(cid:30)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:20)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:20) (cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:12)(cid:18)(cid:1)(cid:6)(cid:21)"(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:25)(cid:18)(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:16)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:5)(cid:1) (cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:20)"(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29) (cid:7)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:12)(cid:18)(cid:10)(cid:1) 4. The aforementioned nine complaints were filed by the complainant, M/s V.R. Brothers, which is a partnership firm engaged in the business of ready-made garments through its authorized signatory and power of attorney holder Vishal Bhalla on the allegations that Alpine Garments Pvt. Ltd. (hereinafter to be mentioned as ‘the company’), the accused Navneet Aggarwal (hereinafter to be mentioned as ‘accused’), and two directors of the company, namely Pradeep Kumar and Swatantra Ved, had approached the complainant-firm and expressed willingness for getting job work done on the fabric supplied by them, from the complainant firm. An oral deal was struck between the parties. The company had started placing orders for making ready-made garments from the fabric supplied by it to the complainant. The complainant performed its job to the satisfaction of the company, and the accused and the company had agreed to make payment in an apple pie order. The job work from the fabrics supplied by the company was done by the complainant, and an amount of Rs. 22,50,000/- became payable by the company. The accused acknowledged legal liability of the Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -6- company, directors and himself towards the complainant, and to discharge that liability, issued seven cheques for sums of Rs. 2,50,000/- each on 01.06.2017, whereas two cheques for sum of Rs. 2,00,000/- each were issued on 18.03.2017 and 01.06.2017 respectively, for discharging liability of payment of the aforementioned amount of Rs. 22,50,000/-. All these cheques were presented for realisation by the complainant before its banker, but were dishonoured with the remarks “funds insufficient”. The complainant served statutory notices of demand within the stipulated period to the company, its directors and to the accused, but to no avail, thereby compelling it to file complaints under Section 138 of the NI Act. 5. After presentation of the complaint and producing preliminary evidence by the complainant, the learned trial Magistrate passed orders in the complaints observing that a prima facie case for commission of offence punishable under Section 138 of the NI Act was made out as against accused only, who was the signatory of the cheques in question and also observed that no prima facie case as against the company or its directors had been made out. The process was accordingly ordered to be issued against the accused in each complaint. On appearance of the accused, notice of accusation was served upon him in each case. He pleaded not guilty. 6. To substantiate its case, the complainant-firm examined its power of attorney holder/authorized signatory Vishal Bhalla as CW-1, who tendered affidavit by way of examination in-chief and also relied upon certain documentary evidence. 7. After closing of evidence of the complainant, statements of the accused were recorded under Section 313 of Cr.P.C. in each complaint. The accused pleaded false implication and claimed himself to be innocent. In Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -7- defence evidence, he examined himself as DW-1 and produced DW-2 ASI Sethi Kumar. Documentary evidence was also produced. 8. On appraising the evidence produced on record and after giving due deliberations to the contentions as raised by both sides, the learned Magistrate vide judgment and order on quantum of sentences dated 14.10.2019 passed in each complaint held the accused guilty for commission of offence punishable under Section 138 of the NI Act and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of two years. The accused was also directed to pay compensation to the complainant in each case. Feeling aggrieved from the orders of his conviction and sentence, the accused preferred aforementioned nine criminal appeals, whereas the complainant also filed nine criminal appeals as detailed out above while feeling dissatisfied from the amount of compensation as awarded to him, thereby seeking enhancement in the same. 9. Vide common judgments dated 15.07.2023, the criminal appeals so filed by the accused were dismissed, whereas the appeals filed by the complainant were partly allowed to the extent of enhancing the amount of compensation to 1.75 times of the cheque amount in each case. Still dissatisfied, the accused has preferred Revision Petition Nos. 1675, 1677, 1683, 1685, 1686, 1687, 1688, 1689 and 1690 of 2023, whereas, the complainant has also filed revision petition Nos. 2276, 2278, 2279, 2280, 2281, 2283, 2285, 2287, and 2316 of 2023. 10. Learned counsel for the accused has argued that the impugned orders passed by the learned trial Magistrate as well as the learned Appellate Court are not sustainable in the eyes of law as while passing the same both these Courts did not appreciate the evidence produced on record in a proper Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -8- manner. They ignored the fact that the cheques in question were issued only by way of security cheques; that the fabric having worth of ₹50,00,000/- was lying with the complainant whereas, job work to the extent of amount of ₹22,50,000/- only had been done by the complainant. Further, the complainant not only withheld the return of the raw material supplied to it, but also misused the cheques in question, which had been handed over only as security. 11. Learned counsel for the accused has further argued that he was neither the director of the company nor he was responsible for day to day conduct of business of the company, nor he was drawer of the cheques in question and as such, he was not covered under the provisions of Section 141 of the NI Act. He was simply an authorized signatory to the cheques in question being an employee of the company. No legally enforceable liability could be enforced against him being a signatory simplicitor and he could also not be fastened with liability to pay compensation to the tune of Rs. 1.75 times of the cheque in question. No order for sentencing him to undergo for imprisonment could be passed. It is submitted that the learned trial Court as well as Appellate Court did not take these points into consideration at all and passed non-speaking and perverse orders which are not sustainable in the eyes of law. With these broad submissions, it is urged that the impugned judgments as passed by both the Courts are liable to be set aside, the revision petitions filed by him deserve to be accepted; he deserves to be acquitted of the accusations and to be exonerated from the liability of making payment of any compensation/enhanced compensation. 12. While refuting the contentions as raised by learned counsel for the accused, learned counsel for the complainant has argued that there is no Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -9- illegality or infirmity in the orders passed by the learned trial Court as well as learned Appellate Court and the same are well reasoned. The accused did not deny his signatures on the cheques in question by admitting that he had signed the same as signatory of the company. There was a presumption under Section 139 of NI Act that the cheques in question were issued by him in discharge of legally enforceable liability and he has failed to rebut this presumption by producing any cogent and convincing evidence to the contrary. The complainant had filed the complaints not only against the accused but also against the company as well as its directors. It had even filed application(s) under Section 319 of Cr.P.C. for summoning the directors as additional accused but it was the trial Court who had not allowed the same and as such there was no lapse on the part of the complainant in not prosecuting the company and its directors. He had produced sufficient evidence on record to prove his case. The learned trial Court and Appellate Court had committed no error in recording the findings of guilt of the accused and these findings do not warrant any interference. 13. Learned counsel for the complainant has further argued that no illegality was committed by the learned trial Court in awarding compensation to the complainant, but the amount of compensation so awarded was meager. Even the learned Appellate Court did not award suitable and proper compensation to the complainant while enhancing the same, as the fact that the complainant had faced the agony of litigation for a period of more than eight years without having any fault on the part of its partners/itself, and had suffered huge financial losses and surely deserved suitable compensation was not properly appreciated. With these broad submissions, it is argued that the revision petitions as filed by the Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -10- complainant deserve to be allowed and the amount of compensation as awarded by the learned Appellate Court in each case deserves to be enhanced at least to the extent of twice the amount of the cheques in question, and further that the petitions filed by the accused are liable to be dismissed. 14. At the very outset, it may be mentioned that there are concurrent findings of conviction arrived at by two Courts and the petitioner has approached this Court to exercise its revisional jurisdiction. It is well settled that in criminal revisions against conviction, this Court is not supposed to exercise the jurisdiction like appellate Court and the scope of interference in the revision is extremely low. Section 438 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (which is pari materia with Section 397 of Cr.P.C.) vests jurisdiction for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the correctness, legality or propriety of any finding, sentence or order, recorded or passed, and as to the regularity of any proceedings of inferior Court. The object of the provision is to set right a patent defect or an error of jurisdiction or law. There has to be a well-founded error which is to be determined on the merits of individual cases. While considering the question as to whether there is a patent defect or an error of jurisdiction or law, the revisional Court is not required to dwell at length upon the facts and evidence of the case to reverse those findings. Reference in this regard can be had to the observations made by Hon’ble Supreme Court in State of Gujarat vs. Dilipsinh Kishorsinh Rao, 2023 SCC OnLine SC 1294, wherein it was held so. The well accepted norm is that a revisional jurisdiction of higher Court is very limited one and cannot be exercised in a routine manner and it should not lead to injustice ex-facie. In view of this Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -11- position of law, it is to be seen as to whether a case for exercise of revisional jurisdiction is made out or not? 15. The accused had been held guilty and convicted for commission of offence punishable under Section 138 of NI Act. The Hon’ble Apex Court explained the ingredients which are to be satisfied for making out a case under Section 138 of the NI Act in (cid:25)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:14)(cid:23)(cid:4)(cid:26)(cid:21)(cid:27)(cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:11)(cid:4)(cid:28)(cid:4)(cid:17)(cid:18)(cid:18)(cid:7)(cid:29)(cid:11)(cid:4)(cid:30)(cid:8)(cid:15)(cid:2)(cid:4)(cid:16)(cid:11)(cid:2)(cid:4)(cid:31)(cid:10)(cid:21)(cid:21)(cid:12)(cid:6) (cid:31)(cid:10)(cid:8)(cid:10)(cid:6)(cid:11)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:4) (cid:10)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:6)(cid:20)(cid:8)(cid:20)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:4)(cid:30)(cid:8)(cid:15)(cid:2)(cid:4)(cid:12)(cid:21)(cid:15)(cid:4)!(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:6)(cid:11)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:10)(cid:19)(cid:7)(cid:6)(cid:8)(cid:10)(cid:15)(cid:4)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:4)"#$$$%(cid:4)#(cid:4) &&(cid:4)’()(cid:1) (cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4) (cid:29)(cid:21)(cid:18)(cid:18)(cid:21)(cid:26)(cid:20)(cid:6) (cid:1)"(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:6)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:8) 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(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:25)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:5) (cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:5)(cid:16)(cid:29)(cid:29)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:20)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:1)(cid:17)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:17)(cid:4)6(cid:16)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:4)?(cid:25)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:5)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:12)"(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:6)(cid:7) (cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:12)(cid:6) (cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:1)&(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:30)(cid:12)(cid:20)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:21)"(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:25)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:1)&(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:12) (cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)"(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:1)"(cid:12)(cid:23)(cid:4) (cid:26)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)&(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:27)>(cid:1) 2(cid:20)(cid:24)5(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:30)(cid:12)(cid:14)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:17)(cid:21)(cid:18)(cid:23)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:23)(cid:16)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:3)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:17)(cid:4)6(cid:16)(cid:4)(cid:1)"(cid:12)(cid:27)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:1)(cid:12) (cid:23)(cid:4)"(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:29)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:30)(cid:12)(cid:14)"(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:5)(cid:12)(cid:20)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:12)"(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)"(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:4)(cid:14)(cid:1)&(cid:14)(cid:1) (cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:6) (cid:12)(cid:1)(cid:6)(cid:21)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:26)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:6) (cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:12)(cid:26)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:17)(cid:4)6(cid:16)(cid:4)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:26)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:1).0(cid:1)(cid:23)(cid:12)(cid:14)(cid:5) (cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:25)(cid:4)(cid:20)(cid:30)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:29)(cid:21)(cid:3)"(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:1)&(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:17)(cid:20)"(cid:1)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:21)"(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)&(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:27)(cid:1)(cid:3)(cid:4) (cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:23)(cid:20)(cid:6) (cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:16)(cid:3)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:17)(cid:4)6(cid:16)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:5)(cid:1)(cid:16)(cid:6)(cid:30)(cid:12)(cid:20)(cid:23)> 2(cid:24)5(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:12)(cid:26)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:5)(cid:16)(cid:25)(cid:17)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:17)(cid:4)6(cid:16)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:29)(cid:12)(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:5)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:1)"(cid:12)(cid:27)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:30)(cid:12)(cid:14)"(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:5)(cid:12)(cid:20)(cid:23) (cid:12)"(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)"(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:4)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:30)(cid:12)(cid:14)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:17)(cid:21)(cid:18)(cid:23)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:23)(cid:16)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:3)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4) (cid:25)(cid:17)(cid:4)6(cid:16)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:26)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:1).0(cid:1)(cid:23)(cid:12)(cid:14)(cid:5)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:25)(cid:4)(cid:20)(cid:30)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:5)(cid:12)(cid:20)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:6)(cid:21)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:4)(cid:10)< Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -12- 16. A reference to the proviso to Section 138 of NI Act is also relevant which reads as follows:- Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply unless – (a) the cheque has been presented to the bank within a pe- riod of six months from the date on which it is drawn or within the period of its validity, whichever is earlier; (b) the payee or the holder in due course of the cheque, as the case may be, makes a demand for the payment of the said amount of money by giving a notice in writing, to the drawer of the cheque, within thirty days of the receipt of information by him from the bank regarding the return of the cheque as unpaid; and (c) the drawer of such cheque fails to make the payment of the said amount of money to the payee or, as the case may be, to the holder in due course of the cheque, within fifteen days of the receipt of the said notice. Explanation. - For the purposes of this section, "debt or other liability" means a legally enforceable debt or other liability.” 17. From a bare reading of Section 138 of the NI Act, it emerges that the first and foremost ingredient for applying this provision upon a person, who is to be made liable is that such person should be the drawer of the cheque and should have drawn the cheque on an account maintained by him with a banker for payment of any amount of money to another person from out of that account that whole or part of any debt or liability. Since in this case, the aforementioned nine complaints had been filed by the complainant against the company, its directors, and the accused, who is the authorized signatory to these cheques, alleging commission of offence punishable under Section 138 of the NI Act, it is, therefore, appropriate to Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -13- refer to Section 141 of the NI Act which deals with the offence by a company. The same reads as follows:- Section 141- OFFENCES BY COMPANY:- (1) If the person committing an offence under section 138 is a company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly: Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any person liable to punishment, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge, or that he had exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence: Provided further that where a person is nominated as a Director of a company by virtue of his holding any office or employment in the Central Government or State Government or a financial corporation owned or controlled by the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, he shall not be liable for prosecution under this Chapter. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where any offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to, any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Explanation.--For the purposes of this section,-- (a) "company" means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -14- (b) "director", in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm." 18. On a bare reading of the aforementioned provision, it is clear that so far as the companies are concerned, if any offence is committed by it, then every person who is director or employee of the company is not liable. Only such person would be held liable who if at the time when offence was committed, was in charge and responsible for the conduct of business of the company as well as of the company. However, by way of an exception to the normal rule that in cases involving criminal liability against vicarious liability, no-one is to be held liable for an act of another, a specific provision is made in the statute by way of this Section that criminal liability can be extended to others. 19. Section 141 of the NI Act is an instance of specific provision, which in case an offence under Section 138 of the NI Act is committed by a Company, extends criminal liability for dishonour of cheque to the officers of the Company. For that purpose certain conditions, which are mentioned in Section 141 of the NI Act, have to be satisfied and those conditions have to be strictly complied with. In that case apart from the Company, all persons, who at the time of commission of offence, were in-charge and were responsible to the Company for conduct of business of the Company, are liable for the offence. This section postulates constructive liability of the directors of the company or the business of the company. 20. It is well settled that what is required for a person, who is sought to be held vicarously liable for the offence under Section 141 of the NI Act, is that when the offence was committed, he was in charge and responsible for conduct and business of the company and this should be reflected in the averments made in the complaint. Reliance in this context Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -15- can be made to S.M.S. Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Vs. Neeta Bhalla, 2005(3) Apex Criminal 229, wherein it was observed by Hon’ble Supreme Court that in a complaint under Section 141 of NI Act, it was necessary to specifically aver that at the time when the offence was committed, the person accused was in charge of and was responsible for the conduct of the business of the company. This was an essential requirement and without this averment having been made, the requirement of Section 141 of NI Act could not be set to be satisfied. Similar observations were made in Neeru Gupta vs. Ajay Dhawan, CRM-M-16269-2018, decided on 18.03.2020 by this Court, Saroj Kumar Poddar Vs. State (NCT of Delhi), 2007(1) R.A.J. 205, National Small Industry Corporation Limited vs. Harmeet Singh Paintal, 2010(2) RCR (Criminal) 122, Hitesh Verma vs. M/s Health Care at Home India Pvt. Ltd. and others, 2025 (1) Apex Court Judgments (SC) 799 and A.K. Singhania vs. Gujarat State Fertilizer Company Ltd., 2013 (4) RCR (Criminal) 777 and N.K. Wahi Vs. Shekhar Singh, 2007(2) RCR (Criminal) 266. 21. In view of the above discussed position of law and applying the same to the peculiar facts of the petitions in hand, it may be stated that the accused did not deny the fact that the cheques in question were signed by him. With regard to question as to liability of the company or himself qua payment of amount of these cheques, he, however took different stands before the learned trial Court. When served with notice of accusation, he stated that the cheques in question were taken by the complainant as security. They were blank cheques and had been misused by the complainant by writing the body of the cheques. While cross-examining CW-1 i.e. the witness of the complainant, no suggestion was given that these cheques were Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -16- security cheques. In his statement(s), recorded under Section 313 of Cr.P.C., he stated that nine cheques had been taken by the complainant as security. He also stated that the cheques were not issued in discharge of any existing legal liability of the company or himself. Then while appearing as DW-1, he did not say that the cheques in question were security cheques and the stand taken by him was that he had signed these cheques only being an employee and authorized signatory of the company and also that these cheques were stolen by the partners of the complainant-firm. The learned trial Court as well as the Appellate Court had observed that it stood proved that the cheques in question were signed and issued by the accused and since the accused himself had not disputed this fact, therefore, there cannot be stated to be any dispute about the fact that the cheques in question were signed by him. 22. What invariably follows from a perusal of provisions of Section 138 of NI Act is that it is only the drawer of the cheque who can be held liable under Section 138 of NI Act. Section 6 of the NI Act inter alia defines a ‘cheque’ as a bill of exchange drawn on a specified banker and not expressed to be payable otherwise than on demand. Section 7 defines the "drawer" as the maker of a bill of exchange or cheque and "drawee" as the person thereby directed to pay. Sections 30 and 31 of the NI Act respectively define the liability of the drawer and the drawee of a cheque as follows: "30. Liability of drawer.-The drawer of a bill of exchange or cheque is bound, in case of dishonour by the drawee or acceptor thereof, to compensate the holder, provided due notice of dishonour has been given to, or received by, the drawer as hereinafter provided. 31. Liability of drawee of cheque.-The drawee of a cheque Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -17- having sufficient funds of the drawer in his hands properly applicable to the payment of such cheque must pay the cheque when duly required so to do, and, in default of such payment, must compensate the drawer for any loss or damage caused by such default. 23. Since as per Section 138 of NI Act, it is the drawer of the cheque in question who drew the cheque on an account maintained by him in a bank, who is to be held liable for payment of the same, therefore, the next question that arises for consideration before this Court is as to whether, the accused could be considered to be the drawer of the cheques in question and further as to whether these cheques are proved to have been drawn on the account maintained by him as required for applying the provisions of Section 138 of NI Act against him? 24. For the above purpose, it is relevant to mention that the cheques in question were admittedly issued from the account maintained by the company M/s Alpine Garments whose name was printed on the cheques themselves and the petitioner signed them as authorized signatory thereof. The accused had not even been summoned/prosecuted as a director of the company nor he was arraigned as such in the complaint in that capacity. Though the company as well as its director had been impleaded as accused in the complaint but as already mentioned, they were not summoned as accused by the learned trial Court and it was only the accused Navneet Aggarwal, who has been summoned as such. 25. The issue as to whether, authorized signatory of a company, who had signed a cheque drawn on the bank account of the company which was dishonoured, could be held liable under Section 138 of NI Act and also for making payment of compensation under Section 143-A of NI Act was Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -18- considered by Hon’ble Supreme Court in a recent decision in the case of Shri Gurudatta Sugars Marketing (P) Ltd. v. Prithviraj Sayajirao Deshmukh 2024 SCC OnLine SC 1800 and while applying the doctrine of separate corporate personality, it was held by Hon’ble Supreme Court that it was only the drawer of the cheque, who could be held to be liable for payment of compensation and the authorized signatory of a company cannot be said to be the drawer of the cheque. 26. In (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:6)(cid:12)(cid:4)(cid:13)(cid:2)(cid:6)(cid:14)(cid:15)(cid:6)(cid:16)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:17)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:6)(cid:12)(cid:10)(cid:13)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:20)(cid:6)2024 SCC Online SC 3833, the Hon’ble Supreme Court was dealing with a similar question and observed that if a cheque is issued by a company but has been signed by its authorized signatory, the latter would not be considered as the maker of those cheques and it is the company alone, which would continue to maker of the cheque and also the drawer within meaning Section 7 of NI Act and the cheque would be considered to be drawn on the account maintained by the company and not by the authorized signatory. It was further observed that the authorized signatory of a company was merely the physical limb that signed and made the cheque on behalf of the company’s incorporeal personality. The company, for all purposes, continued to remain the drawer of the cheques. If any other interpretation was accepted then even an employee of the company, who on account of his being an authorized signatory signed a cheque issued by the company towards discharge of the debt or other liability thereof, would be liable to prosecution and conviction under Section 138 of NI Act even after he resigned from the company or was no more in its employment. Hon’ble Supreme Court held that this could not have been the intention of the legislature and even vicarious liability created under Section 138 would not be attracted in respect of a director or Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -19- an employee of the company, who resigns and severes his connection with the same. It was also held that a company vis-a-vis its authorized signatory stood on a completely different footing as compared to account holders of a joint account. The culpability attached to the dishonour of a cheque could, in no case, “except in case of Section 141 of the NI Act” be extended to those on whose behalf the cheque was issued. 27. In N. Harihara Krishnan v. J. Thomas (2018) 13 SCC 663, while dealing with the issue of commission of an offence under Section 138 of NI Act by a company, it was observed by Hon’ble Supreme Court that Section 138 only contemplated the drawer of the cheque to be responsible for the commission of the offence. It is only by virtue of Section 141 that certain persons other than the drawer of the cheque can be made liable for the offence in cases where the offence under Section 138 is committed by a company and not by an individual person. It was also held that the offence under Section 138 was capable of being committed only by drawer of the cheque. Section 141 stipulated the liability for the offence punishable under Section 138, when the person committing such an offence happens to be a company-in other words, when the drawer of the cheque happens to be a company. 28. In view of the above discussed proposition of law, it is clear that in case a cheque is drawn from the account of a company by its authorized signatory, the latter would not be considered to be the drawer of the cheque and it is the company which would be considered to be so and therefore, the petitioner who had been summoned and prosecuted could not be considered to be drawer of the cheque. Since in these cases, neither the company nor the director thereof had been summoned and prosecuted as Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -20- accused and since the complainant failed to bring any material on record to show that the accused was responsible for day to day conduct of business of the company and was vicariously liable, therefore, due to only being authorized signatory, criminal liability on account of dishonour of cheque did not fall on him as such liability primarily falls on the drawer company and it is only thereafter, it extends to its officers/directors only when the conditions incorporated in Section 141 of NI Act are satisfied. Rather during cross-examination, CW-1 i.e. the only witness of the complainant categorically admitted that the petitioner was not conducting day to day business/affairs of the company. Reference in this context can be had to the observations made by Hon’ble Supreme Court in Aneeta Hada v. Godfather Travels & Tours (P) Ltd., (2012) 5 SCC 661, that commission of an offence by the company is an express condition precedent and only when the prosecution is maintainable against the company that the persons mentioned in other categories under Section 141 can be vicariously made liable for the company for the offence committed under Section 138. The doctrine of strict construction is to be applied as per which commission of offence by the company is a condition precedent to attract the vicarious liability of others. When the company can be prosecuted, then only the persons mentioned in other categories could be made vicariously liable. 29. As a result of the discussion made above, it follows that it is the drawer company which must be first held to be the principal offender under Section 138 of NI Act before culpability can be extended to the other directors or persons in charge of and responsible to the company for the conduct of its business. If the liability of the drawer company is not proved or if it is not prosecuted then there is no requirement to hold the other Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:12)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:17) -21- persons vicariously liable for the offence committed under Section 138 of the NI Act. Since the cheques in question were not drawn from the account maintained by the accused but were issued on the account maintained by the company and as the accused was not the drawer of the company, therefore, the requirements for establishing the ingredients for Section 138 of NI Act cannot be stated to have been complied with while recording findings as to the guilt of accused and hence, these findings not being in accordance with the well established position of law are not sustainable and are liable to be reversed. The learned trial Court as well as Appellate Court did not consider these important aspects of the case as well as the law applicable and therefore, the findings as given by learned trial Court as to the guilt of the accused and directing him to pay compensation and as upheld by the learned trial Court in all the nine complaints are set aside. As a result thereto, the judgments as passed by the trial Court recording conviction of the accused and judgments of Appellate Court affirming the same are hereby reversed and set aside; the revision petitions as filed by the accused are accepted, whereas, the revision petitions filed by the complainant are dismissed. The accused is ordered to be acquitted of the accusations in all the cases/complaints. /-(cid:10) (cid:2)(cid:17)(cid:21)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:30)(cid:14)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:20)(cid:5)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:23)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:1)&(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:30)(cid:18)(cid:12)(cid:25)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:29)(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:1)(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:6)(cid:4)(cid:25)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:23) (cid:25)(cid:12)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:10) /.(cid:10) (cid:11)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:25)(cid:4) (cid:1) (cid:7)(cid:17)(cid:4) (cid:1) "(cid:12)(cid:20)(cid:6) (cid:1) (cid:30)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:5)(cid:1) (cid:17)(cid:12)(cid:24)(cid:4) (cid:1) &(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:6) (cid:1) (cid:23)(cid:20)(cid:5)(cid:30)(cid:21)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:23) (cid:1) (cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:19) (cid:1)(cid:30)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:23)(cid:20)(cid:6) (cid:12)(cid:30)(cid:30)(cid:18)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:12)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:6)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:29)(cid:1)(cid:12)(cid:6)(cid:14)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:5)(cid:1)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:23)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:23)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:6)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:16)(cid:25)(cid:7)(cid:16)(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:5)(cid:10) (cid:4)%(cid:16)&(cid:9)’(cid:15)((cid:16)(cid:15))*(cid:15)+,(cid:9)(cid:4)(cid:7)(cid:4)- (cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:15)(cid:8) (cid:1) (cid:16)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:18)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:6)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:9)(cid:3)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:11)(cid:8)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:12)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:9)(cid:11)(cid:8)(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:12)(cid:11)(cid:26) (cid:29)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:18)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:6)(cid:14)(cid:11)(cid:9)(cid:3)(cid:9)(cid:11)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:9)(cid:6)(cid:8)(cid:30)(cid:31)(cid:11) Parveen Sharma 2025.09.25 16:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document (cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)@8(cid:29)(cid:19)(cid:18)’(cid:21)(cid:29)(cid:9)(cid:30)(cid:29)(cid:20)(cid:2)(cid:29)A (cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:28)(cid:25)!(cid:23)(cid:22) (cid:27) (cid:27) (cid:28)(cid:11)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:25) (cid:28)(cid:11)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:25)