High Court · 2025
Case Details
applicant and Sri Pankaj Kumar Rai, learned State Law Officer for the State.
2. In view of the order which is being proposed to be passed notices are not being issued to the opposite party no.2.
3. The case of the applicant is that on 24.12.2024 a complaint stood preferred by the opposite party no.2 under Section 138 of the N.I. Act against the applicant with an allegation that with respect to discharge of a liability, the applicant herein had drawn a cheque of Rs.9,80,000/- bearing no.484953 dated 23.7.2024 and dishonoured on 17.10.2024 and thereafter a demand notice was issued on 12.11.2024 followed by a complaint on 24.12.2024 and the applicant came to be summoned on 20.2.2025.
4. Learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that the summoning order cannot be sustained for a single moment particularly when the complaint herein stood lodged on 24.12.2024 post enforcement of the BNSS, 2023 which came into effect from 1.7.2024 and thus in view of the provisions contained under first proviso to Section 223 of the BNSS, 2023 at a pre-cognizance stage the applicant was to be put to notice and heard. Since the said exercise has not been undertaken thus, the summoning order cannot be sustained he seeks to rely upon the decision of coordinate Bench of this Court in Prateek Agarwal vs. State of U.P. and another Application U/S 482 No.10390 of 2024 decided on 26.11.2014.He thus submits the summoning order be set aside and the matter be remitted back to the court below.
5. Learned State Law Officer on the other hand submits that once the cheque stood drawn and the same was dishonoured presumption under Section 139 of the N.I. Act would be made but however he could not dispute the fact that the applicant was not put to notice or accorded opportunity of hearing at pre-cognizance stage as per the provisions contained under first proviso to Section 223 of the B.N.S.S. He further submits that the summoning order be set aside and the matter be remitted back to the court below to pass a fresh order.
6. I have heard the submissions so made across the bar and perused the record carefully.
7. Summoning order dated 20.2.2025 has quoted hereunder:- 1 नययययलय- ए०सस० जज०एम०/ ससववल जज (सस०वड०) / एफ०टस०सस०, वचतकक ट। पररवयद सस०-8072/2024 रवचत अगवयल बनयम शसमतस जययवत दजवस धयरय-138 एन०आई०एकट थयनय-कदर सजलय-वचतकक ट।
20.02.2025 पतयवलस पजश हहई। पपकयर पर पररचयदस कज ववदयन असधवकय उपससथत। पररवयदस कज ववदयन असधवकय कय तलबस बहस पर सपनय एवस पतयवलस कय अवलयकन वकयय। पयथथर रवचत अगवयल दयरय पसतपत पररधयद पत ववपकस/अवभयपक पररवयदस/ शसमतस जययवत दजवर कज ववरद इस कथन कज सयथ पसतपत वकयय गयय हह वक यह मज वचतकक ट लपवबकज नटस सटजशन रयड कवर सजलय वचतकक ट कय पयपरयइटर हह थय उसकक उक कमर सज ववपकस व उसकज पवत रयमक पसयद दयरय वययपयर वकयय जयतय रहय हह। उसकय ववपकस जययवत दजवस कक फमर सज. रपयज एवस ववपकस कज पवत रयमक पसयद कक फमर अथयज आयल कमपनस सज मप0 571449/-रपयज सवक रयन पसयद ववपकस कज पपयर हह इससलए उपरयक लपवबकज नटस कज बयद पयनज थज। चक नस लयख अससस हजयर रपयज) कक कप ल धनरयवश मप० 9.80,000/- अदययगस कज बयवत ववपकस नज उसकय एक बबक सखयय-454953 इसणडयन बबक शयखय जसपपरय, कय वदनयसवकत सजलय बयबदय कय खयतय ससखयय-6995643311 23.07.2024 उसकक फमर कज नयम कय ववपकस दयरय पदयन वकयय गयय। उसनज उपरयक चजक कज धनरयवश आहरण हजतप उपरयक यजक कय अपनज फमर वचतकक ट कज खयतय सस०- आई०सस०बस०आई० बबक शयखय कमर, मप० 408551/- रपयज ( सजलय मम वदनयसक 23.07.2024 1984102000002967 कय लगययय सजस परर बबक दयरय पस०पस०एस० नयट कनकयई असवक कर वयपस कर वदयय सजसकक जयनकयरस ववपकस कय दस गयस तय ववपकस दयरय उससज कप र वदन कय समय मयसगय और पपनन चजक लगयनज कज सलए कहय। उसनज कयफक वदनस बयद उपरयव ववपकस दयरय वदयज गयज उपरसकय बबक कय पपनन अपनज कमर कय खयतज मम मजरज मपवसककल दयरय भपगतयन हजतप लगययय गयय सजस पर ससबससधत बबक दयरय वदनयसक 17.10.2024 कय बबक दयरय जररयज महगयरजणडम पपनन पसपसएस नयट कनफमरड ( पययरप धनरयवश न हयनय) कक वटपपणस कज सयथ वयपस कर वदयय। उसनज उक तथय कक जयनकयरस जब ववपकस कय दस तय ववपकस रपयज दजनज सज हस इसकयर कर वदयय। जब उसकय यह ववशयस हय गयय वक ववपकस उपरयक चजकक मम ववणरत धनरयवश नहह दजनय धयहतस हह तब उसनज वदनयसक 12.11.2024 कय जररयज असधवकय नयवटस वदयय जय वक ववपकस नज जयनबझकर उपरयक पतज पर न हयनज कय असकन अरयकर वयपस कर वदयय और जयनकयरस हयनज कज बयवजकद ववधकस नज आज तक कक उपधनरयवश वयपस नहह कक। अतन उक सयथस कज आधयर पर ववपकस नज धयरय 136 एन०४०ई०एकट मम तलब करकज धनरयवश मग बययज वदलययज जयनज कक ययचनय कक गई हह। पयथरनय पत शपथ पत सज समसथरत हह। रपयज ( कय मप० 9.60.000/- सज चजक सस०-484953 ( वदनयसवकत 23.07.2024, सजलय बसदय कय मकल चजक, पररवयदस कक ओर सज पररवयद कज समथरन मम अवनलजखसय सयकय मम सकचस सज ररटनर मजमय. नयवटस, इसणडयन बबक शयखय जसपपरय, रसजसटरस रससद दयसखल वकयज गयज हह। पतयवलस पर उपलकय नकल बबक कज अवलयकन सज यह दवशरत हह वक खयतय सस0- इसणडयन बबक शयखय जसपपरय, सजलय 6995643311, बयबदय) नस लयख अससस हजयर रपयज) कज बयवत पररवयदस रवक अगवयल कज पक मम ववपकस शसमतस जययवत दजवस दयरय जयरस वकयय गयय हह। आई०सस०बस०आई० बबक शयखय कचर, सजलय ररटनर मजमक कज अनपसयर उक चजक ससबससधत खयतज मम अपययरप धनरयवश वचतकक ट कज न हयनज कज कयरण वदनयसक 17.10.2024 कय अनयववत हय गयय। पररवयदस दयरय चजक कय दस अनयदत हयनज कज 15 गयस और अवभयपक कय तयनसलय वदनयसक 18.11.2024 कय हयनय पययय गयय। पसतपत पररवयद वदनयसक 24.12.2024 कय दयसखल वकयय गयय हह। पररवयदस दयरय नयवटस समय सज दस नहह हह कसम पसतपत वकयय गयय हह। पररवयद कज कथनक कज समथरन मम पररवयदस कय बययन सशपथ समसथरत हह। नययययलय कज मत मम पथम दषयय चजक जयरस वकयज जयनज सज एनआई० एकट पयवधयनक कज तहत पवतफल कक उपधयरणय कक जययजगस। अतन उपलबध पपतक कज पररपजकय मम ववपकस शसमतस जययवत दजवस कज असगरत तलब वकयज जयनज ययगय हह। वदन कज असदर ववपकस कय नयवटस वदनयसक 12:112024 कय परकयमय सलसखत असधवनयम 1881 कक धयरय 1318 आदजश अवभयपकयय शसमतस जययवत दजवस पतनस रयमपसयद, ववपतस/ जवडसग कमपनस पतय इचयवर धयरसखजडय पलयनस सजलय बयबदय उ०प० कय परकयमय सलखत असधवनयम 1881 कज असतगरत तय वकयय जयतय हह। पररवयदस सयवकयक कक सकचस दयसखल 226 227 ०स०एस० मम उसलवपरहरस एक सपयह मम पय० शस बमहदजव टर कक धयरय 138 करम। कय दजश हय। पतयवलस बयसय हयसजरस वदनयसक
15.04.2025 ए०सस० जज०एम०/ ससववल जज (सस०वड०) / एफ०टस०सस०, वचतकक ट। जज०ओ०कयड-यक०पस०-2517
8. Apparently the complaint stood lodged on 24.12.2024 and the summoning order came to be passed on 20.2.2025.
9. Importantly B.N.S.S. came into effect from 1.7.2024 thus under Sub-Section 223 of the B.N.S.S. it was incumbent upon the court below to have issued notice to be accrued at a pre-cognizance stage.
10. Section 223 of the B.N.S.S. reads as under:- "223. Examination of complainant. - (1) A Magistrate having jurisdiction while taking cognizance of an offence on complaint shall examine upon oath the complainant and the witnesses present, if any, and the substance of such examination shall be reduced to writing and shall be signed by the complainant and the witnesses, and also by the Magistrate: Provided that no cognizance of an offence shall be taken by the Magistrate without giving the accused an opportunity of being heard: Provided further that when the complaint is made in writing, the Magistrate need not examine the complainant and the witnesses - (a) if a public servant acting or purporting to act in the discharge of his official duties or a Court has made the complaint; or (b) if the Magistrate makes over the case for inquiry or trial to another Magistrate under section 212: Provided also that if the Magistrate makes over the case to another Magistrate under section 212 after examining the complainant and the witnesses, the latter Magistrate need not re-examine them: (2) A Magistrate shall not take cognizance on a complaint against a public servant for any offence alleged to have been committed in course of the discharge of his official functions or duties unless - (a) such public servant is given an opportunity to make assertions as to the situation that led to the incident so alleged; and (b) a report containing facts and circumstances of the incident from the officer superior to such public servant is received."
11. In the decision of Prateek Agarwal (supra) had the occasioned to consider the said issue and it was observed as under:- "8. The obfuscation generated in the case at hand is with regard to interpretation of Section 223 of the BNSS, as to whether on presentation of the complaint, notice should be issued to the accused, without recording sworn statement of the complainant, or notice should be issued to the accused after recording the sworn 7 statement, as the mandate of the statute is, while taking cognizance of an offence the complainant shall be examined on oath. The proviso mandates that no cognizance of an offence shall be taken by the Magistrate without giving the accused an opportunity of being heard.
9. To steer clear the obfuscation, it is necessary to notice the language deployed therein. The Magistrate while taking cognizance of an offence should have with him the statement on oath of the complainant and if any witnesses are present, their statements. The taking of cognizance under Section 223 of the BNSS would come after the recording of the sworn statement, at that juncture a notice is required to be sent to the accused, as the proviso mandates grant of an opportunity of being heard.
10. Therefore, the procedural drill would be this way: A complaint is presented before the Magistrate under Section 223 of the BNSS; on presentation of the complaint, it would be the duty of the Magistrate / concerned Court to examine the complainant on oath, which would be his sworn statement and 8 examine the witnesses present if any, and the substance of such examination should be reduced into writing. The question of taking of cognizance would not arise at this juncture. The magistrate has to, in terms of the proviso, issue a notice to the accused who is given an opportunity of being heard. Therefore, notice shall be issued to the accused at that stage and after hearing the accused, take cognizance and regulate its procedure thereafter.
11. The proviso indicates that an accused should have an opportunity of being heard. Opportunity of being heard would not mean an empty formality. Therefore, the notice that is sent to the accused in terms of proviso to sub-section (1) of Section 223 of the BNSS shall append to it the complaint; the sworn statement; statement of witnesses if any, for the accused to appear and submit his case before taking of cognizance. In the considered view of this Court, it is the clear purport of Section 223 of BNSS 2023.
12. Swinging back to the facts of the case the concerned Court has passed the following order: "This complaint is filed against the Accussed alleging the offence P/U/Sec.356(2) of BNS, 2023. Issue notice to the Accused as per proviso to section 223 of BNSS, 2023. For hearing. Call on 13.08.2024." The moment complaint is filed, notice is issued to the accused. This procedure is erroneous. Therefore, the petition deserves to succeed on this short ground of procedural aberration and the matter is to be remitted back to the hands of the concerned Court to redo the exercise from the beginning, bearing in mind the observations made in the course of the order.
13. For the aforesaid reasons the following: ORDER (i) Criminal Petition is allowed. (ii) Impugned order dated 16-07-2024 passed by the XLII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru in PCR No.9136 of 2024 stands quashed. 10 (iii) Matter is remitted back to the learned Magistrate to redo the exercise afresh, from the stage of entertainment of the complaint, bearing in mind the observations made in the course of the order. (iv) The said exercise shall be undertaken within 4 weeks from the date of receipt of the copy of this order. Consequently, I.A.No.2 of 2024 stands disposed."
11. Since the applicant was not put to notice at precogniznace stage and the relevant averments have been made in para 18 of the application thus, the summoning order cannot be sustained.
14. Following the judgment in Prateek Agarwal (supra) the summoning order cannot be sustained. Accordingly, the application is being decided in the following terms:-(a) the summoning orders dated 20.2.2025 is set aside and (b) matters stands remitted back to the court below to pass a fresh order.
15. For facilitation and early disposal the applicant shall submit the certified copy of the order passed today by 18.7.2025.
16. The applications stand disposed of. Order Date :- 14.7.2025 piyush PIYUSH KUMAR High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
applicant and Sri Pankaj Kumar Rai, learned State Law Officer for the State.
2. In view of the order which is being proposed to be passed notices are not being issued to the opposite party no.2.
3. The case of the applicant is that on 24.12.2024 a complaint stood preferred by the opposite party no.2 under Section 138 of the N.I. Act against the applicant with an allegation that with respect to discharge of a liability, the applicant herein had drawn a cheque of Rs.9,80,000/- bearing no.484953 dated 23.7.2024 and dishonoured on 17.10.2024 and thereafter a demand notice was issued on 12.11.2024 followed by a complaint on 24.12.2024 and the applicant came to be summoned on 20.2.2025.
4. Learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that the summoning order cannot be sustained for a single moment particularly when the complaint herein stood lodged on 24.12.2024 post enforcement of the BNSS, 2023 which came into effect from 1.7.2024 and thus in view of the provisions contained under first proviso to Section 223 of the BNSS, 2023 at a pre-cognizance stage the applicant was to be put to notice and heard. Since the said exercise has not been undertaken thus, the summoning order cannot be sustained he seeks to rely upon the decision of coordinate Bench of this Court in Prateek Agarwal vs. State of U.P. and another Application U/S 482 No.10390 of 2024 decided on 26.11.2014.He thus submits the summoning order be set aside and the matter be remitted back to the court below.
5. Learned State Law Officer on the other hand submits that once the cheque stood drawn and the same was dishonoured presumption under Section 139 of the N.I. Act would be made but however he could not dispute the fact that the applicant was not put to notice or accorded opportunity of hearing at pre-cognizance stage as per the provisions contained under first proviso to Section 223 of the B.N.S.S. He further submits that the summoning order be set aside and the matter be remitted back to the court below to pass a fresh order.
6. I have heard the submissions so made across the bar and perused the record carefully.
7. Summoning order dated 20.2.2025 has quoted hereunder:- 1 नययययलय- ए०सस० जज०एम०/ ससववल जज (सस०वड०) / एफ०टस०सस०, वचतकक ट। पररवयद सस०-8072/2024 रवचत अगवयल बनयम शसमतस जययवत दजवस धयरय-138 एन०आई०एकट थयनय-कदर सजलय-वचतकक ट।
20.02.2025 पतयवलस पजश हहई। पपकयर पर पररचयदस कज ववदयन असधवकय उपससथत। पररवयदस कज ववदयन असधवकय कय तलबस बहस पर सपनय एवस पतयवलस कय अवलयकन वकयय। पयथथर रवचत अगवयल दयरय पसतपत पररधयद पत ववपकस/अवभयपक पररवयदस/ शसमतस जययवत दजवर कज ववरद इस कथन कज सयथ पसतपत वकयय गयय हह वक यह मज वचतकक ट लपवबकज नटस सटजशन रयड कवर सजलय वचतकक ट कय पयपरयइटर हह थय उसकक उक कमर सज ववपकस व उसकज पवत रयमक पसयद दयरय वययपयर वकयय जयतय रहय हह। उसकय ववपकस जययवत दजवस कक फमर सज. रपयज एवस ववपकस कज पवत रयमक पसयद कक फमर अथयज आयल कमपनस सज मप0 571449/-रपयज सवक रयन पसयद ववपकस कज पपयर हह इससलए उपरयक लपवबकज नटस कज बयद पयनज थज। चक नस लयख अससस हजयर रपयज) कक कप ल धनरयवश मप० 9.80,000/- अदययगस कज बयवत ववपकस नज उसकय एक बबक सखयय-454953 इसणडयन बबक शयखय जसपपरय, कय वदनयसवकत सजलय बयबदय कय खयतय ससखयय-6995643311 23.07.2024 उसकक फमर कज नयम कय ववपकस दयरय पदयन वकयय गयय। उसनज उपरयक चजक कज धनरयवश आहरण हजतप उपरयक यजक कय अपनज फमर वचतकक ट कज खयतय सस०- आई०सस०बस०आई० बबक शयखय कमर, मप० 408551/- रपयज ( सजलय मम वदनयसक 23.07.2024 1984102000002967 कय लगययय सजस परर बबक दयरय पस०पस०एस० नयट कनकयई असवक कर वयपस कर वदयय सजसकक जयनकयरस ववपकस कय दस गयस तय ववपकस दयरय उससज कप र वदन कय समय मयसगय और पपनन चजक लगयनज कज सलए कहय। उसनज कयफक वदनस बयद उपरयव ववपकस दयरय वदयज गयज उपरसकय बबक कय पपनन अपनज कमर कय खयतज मम मजरज मपवसककल दयरय भपगतयन हजतप लगययय गयय सजस पर ससबससधत बबक दयरय वदनयसक 17.10.2024 कय बबक दयरय जररयज महगयरजणडम पपनन पसपसएस नयट कनफमरड ( पययरप धनरयवश न हयनय) कक वटपपणस कज सयथ वयपस कर वदयय। उसनज उक तथय कक जयनकयरस जब ववपकस कय दस तय ववपकस रपयज दजनज सज हस इसकयर कर वदयय। जब उसकय यह ववशयस हय गयय वक ववपकस उपरयक चजकक मम ववणरत धनरयवश नहह दजनय धयहतस हह तब उसनज वदनयसक 12.11.2024 कय जररयज असधवकय नयवटस वदयय जय वक ववपकस नज जयनबझकर उपरयक पतज पर न हयनज कय असकन अरयकर वयपस कर वदयय और जयनकयरस हयनज कज बयवजकद ववधकस नज आज तक कक उपधनरयवश वयपस नहह कक। अतन उक सयथस कज आधयर पर ववपकस नज धयरय 136 एन०४०ई०एकट मम तलब करकज धनरयवश मग बययज वदलययज जयनज कक ययचनय कक गई हह। पयथरनय पत शपथ पत सज समसथरत हह। रपयज ( कय मप० 9.60.000/- सज चजक सस०-484953 ( वदनयसवकत 23.07.2024, सजलय बसदय कय मकल चजक, पररवयदस कक ओर सज पररवयद कज समथरन मम अवनलजखसय सयकय मम सकचस सज ररटनर मजमय. नयवटस, इसणडयन बबक शयखय जसपपरय, रसजसटरस रससद दयसखल वकयज गयज हह। पतयवलस पर उपलकय नकल बबक कज अवलयकन सज यह दवशरत हह वक खयतय सस0- इसणडयन बबक शयखय जसपपरय, सजलय 6995643311, बयबदय) नस लयख अससस हजयर रपयज) कज बयवत पररवयदस रवक अगवयल कज पक मम ववपकस शसमतस जययवत दजवस दयरय जयरस वकयय गयय हह। आई०सस०बस०आई० बबक शयखय कचर, सजलय ररटनर मजमक कज अनपसयर उक चजक ससबससधत खयतज मम अपययरप धनरयवश वचतकक ट कज न हयनज कज कयरण वदनयसक 17.10.2024 कय अनयववत हय गयय। पररवयदस दयरय चजक कय दस अनयदत हयनज कज 15 गयस और अवभयपक कय तयनसलय वदनयसक 18.11.2024 कय हयनय पययय गयय। पसतपत पररवयद वदनयसक 24.12.2024 कय दयसखल वकयय गयय हह। पररवयदस दयरय नयवटस समय सज दस नहह हह कसम पसतपत वकयय गयय हह। पररवयद कज कथनक कज समथरन मम पररवयदस कय बययन सशपथ समसथरत हह। नययययलय कज मत मम पथम दषयय चजक जयरस वकयज जयनज सज एनआई० एकट पयवधयनक कज तहत पवतफल कक उपधयरणय कक जययजगस। अतन उपलबध पपतक कज पररपजकय मम ववपकस शसमतस जययवत दजवस कज असगरत तलब वकयज जयनज ययगय हह। वदन कज असदर ववपकस कय नयवटस वदनयसक 12:112024 कय परकयमय सलसखत असधवनयम 1881 कक धयरय 1318 आदजश अवभयपकयय शसमतस जययवत दजवस पतनस रयमपसयद, ववपतस/ जवडसग कमपनस पतय इचयवर धयरसखजडय पलयनस सजलय बयबदय उ०प० कय परकयमय सलखत असधवनयम 1881 कज असतगरत तय वकयय जयतय हह। पररवयदस सयवकयक कक सकचस दयसखल 226 227 ०स०एस० मम उसलवपरहरस एक सपयह मम पय० शस बमहदजव टर कक धयरय 138 करम। कय दजश हय। पतयवलस बयसय हयसजरस वदनयसक
15.04.2025 ए०सस० जज०एम०/ ससववल जज (सस०वड०) / एफ०टस०सस०, वचतकक ट। जज०ओ०कयड-यक०पस०-2517
8. Apparently the complaint stood lodged on 24.12.2024 and the summoning order came to be passed on 20.2.2025.
9. Importantly B.N.S.S. came into effect from 1.7.2024 thus under Sub-Section 223 of the B.N.S.S. it was incumbent upon the court below to have issued notice to be accrued at a pre-cognizance stage.
10. Section 223 of the B.N.S.S. reads as under:- "223. Examination of complainant. - (1) A Magistrate having jurisdiction while taking cognizance of an offence on complaint shall examine upon oath the complainant and the witnesses present, if any, and the substance of such examination shall be reduced to writing and shall be signed by the complainant and the witnesses, and also by the Magistrate: Provided that no cognizance of an offence shall be taken by the Magistrate without giving the accused an opportunity of being heard: Provided further that when the complaint is made in writing, the Magistrate need not examine the complainant and the witnesses - (a) if a public servant acting or purporting to act in the discharge of his official duties or a Court has made the complaint; or (b) if the Magistrate makes over the case for inquiry or trial to another Magistrate under section 212: Provided also that if the Magistrate makes over the case to another Magistrate under section 212 after examining the complainant and the witnesses, the latter Magistrate need not re-examine them: (2) A Magistrate shall not take cognizance on a complaint against a public servant for any offence alleged to have been committed in course of the discharge of his official functions or duties unless - (a) such public servant is given an opportunity to make assertions as to the situation that led to the incident so alleged; and (b) a report containing facts and circumstances of the incident from the officer superior to such public servant is received."
11. In the decision of Prateek Agarwal (supra) had the occasioned to consider the said issue and it was observed as under:- "8. The obfuscation generated in the case at hand is with regard to interpretation of Section 223 of the BNSS, as to whether on presentation of the complaint, notice should be issued to the accused, without recording sworn statement of the complainant, or notice should be issued to the accused after recording the sworn 7 statement, as the mandate of the statute is, while taking cognizance of an offence the complainant shall be examined on oath. The proviso mandates that no cognizance of an offence shall be taken by the Magistrate without giving the accused an opportunity of being heard.
9. To steer clear the obfuscation, it is necessary to notice the language deployed therein. The Magistrate while taking cognizance of an offence should have with him the statement on oath of the complainant and if any witnesses are present, their statements. The taking of cognizance under Section 223 of the BNSS would come after the recording of the sworn statement, at that juncture a notice is required to be sent to the accused, as the proviso mandates grant of an opportunity of being heard.
10. Therefore, the procedural drill would be this way: A complaint is presented before the Magistrate under Section 223 of the BNSS; on presentation of the complaint, it would be the duty of the Magistrate / concerned Court to examine the complainant on oath, which would be his sworn statement and 8 examine the witnesses present if any, and the substance of such examination should be reduced into writing. The question of taking of cognizance would not arise at this juncture. The magistrate has to, in terms of the proviso, issue a notice to the accused who is given an opportunity of being heard. Therefore, notice shall be issued to the accused at that stage and after hearing the accused, take cognizance and regulate its procedure thereafter.
11. The proviso indicates that an accused should have an opportunity of being heard. Opportunity of being heard would not mean an empty formality. Therefore, the notice that is sent to the accused in terms of proviso to sub-section (1) of Section 223 of the BNSS shall append to it the complaint; the sworn statement; statement of witnesses if any, for the accused to appear and submit his case before taking of cognizance. In the considered view of this Court, it is the clear purport of Section 223 of BNSS 2023.
12. Swinging back to the facts of the case the concerned Court has passed the following order: "This complaint is filed against the Accussed alleging the offence P/U/Sec.356(2) of BNS, 2023. Issue notice to the Accused as per proviso to section 223 of BNSS, 2023. For hearing. Call on 13.08.2024." The moment complaint is filed, notice is issued to the accused. This procedure is erroneous. Therefore, the petition deserves to succeed on this short ground of procedural aberration and the matter is to be remitted back to the hands of the concerned Court to redo the exercise from the beginning, bearing in mind the observations made in the course of the order.
13. For the aforesaid reasons the following: ORDER (i) Criminal Petition is allowed. (ii) Impugned order dated 16-07-2024 passed by the XLII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bengaluru in PCR No.9136 of 2024 stands quashed. 10 (iii) Matter is remitted back to the learned Magistrate to redo the exercise afresh, from the stage of entertainment of the complaint, bearing in mind the observations made in the course of the order. (iv) The said exercise shall be undertaken within 4 weeks from the date of receipt of the copy of this order. Consequently, I.A.No.2 of 2024 stands disposed."
11. Since the applicant was not put to notice at precogniznace stage and the relevant averments have been made in para 18 of the application thus, the summoning order cannot be sustained.
14. Following the judgment in Prateek Agarwal (supra) the summoning order cannot be sustained. Accordingly, the application is being decided in the following terms:-(a) the summoning orders dated 20.2.2025 is set aside and (b) matters stands remitted back to the court below to pass a fresh order.
15. For facilitation and early disposal the applicant shall submit the certified copy of the order passed today by 18.7.2025.
16. The applications stand disposed of. Order Date :- 14.7.2025 piyush PIYUSH KUMAR High Court of Judicature at Allahabad