JAWAHAR LAL BANSAL Vs. MOHINDER SINGH AND ANOTHER
LAWS(P&H)-1979-9-32
HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
Decided on September 04,1979

Jawahar Lal Bansal Appellant
VERSUS
Mohinder Singh And Another Respondents

JUDGEMENT

J.M.Tandon, J. - (1.) MOHINDER Singh of Messrs Metro Trading Company, Ludhiana, filed a complaint against Jawahar Lal Bansal and others under Sections 406 and 420, Indian Penal Code, alleging that the latter had made purchases from him on July 13, 1970, at Ludiana, of wool waste and art silk worth Rs. 58866. 73. As per direction of Jawahar Lal Bangal and others, the goods were de patched in three lots on September 15 and 20, 1976 and October 1, 1976. He insisted the payment of price in cash. Jawahar Lal Bansa) and others represented that they were sound businessmen In as much as their business run into lakhs of rupees. Their business is at Aera with branch office at Amritsar. They have an account with Vijay Bank Limited Amritsar, wherein more than rupees two lakhs is deposited. On this representation, he agreed to accept a post -dated cheque dated July 22, 1977(sic), towards price, which was not honoured when presented on due date. Mohinder Singh alleged that he had thereby been cheated. He prayed that proceedings under Section 406, 420 and 109. Indian Penal Code, against Jawahar Lal Bansal and others be initiated
(2.) THE trial Magistrate summoned Jawahar Lal Bansal and others to stand trial under Section 420. Indian Penal Code, by his order dated August 30, 1977. Sanjay Bansal, one of the accused, who was summoned, preferred a revision against the order of the trial Court dated August 30, 1977, which was dismissed on November 18 1978, being time barred. Jawahar Lal Bansal filed the present petition under Section 482, Criminal Procedure Code, praying that the proceedings aga.inst them be quashed inasmuch as the complaint of Mohinder Singh does not make out any offence against them. Mohinder Singh Respondent supplied wool waste and art silk worth Rs 58663(sic). The goods were despatched on September 15 and 20, 1476 and October 6, 196(sic) The salt was made on July 13, 1976. Mohinder Singh was given a post dated cheque dated July 22, 1977, as the price of the goods According to the complainant, the Petitioner and others represented to him that they were sound businessmen having business at Agra and Amritsar and they also represented about their s&und financial position having a deposit of Rs 2 lakhs in their account in Vijay Bank Limited, Amritsar.
(3.) THE learned Counsel for the Respondents has argued that the representation made by the Petitioner and his companions to the Respondent make out a prima facie case against them under Section 4"0, Indian Penal Code. Reliance has been placed on Mutari Lal v. Shiv Parkash etc, 1971 Cri. L. J. 96., wherein it was held that the intention of the drawer at the time the cheque is issued is very material in order to determine whether the intention of the accused was to make the payment or otherwise. It was further held that a distinction will have to be drawn between a case where a post dated cheque is issued in order to discharge an existing liability and a case where it is issued against delivery of goods, property or cash with an assurance that it well be encashed when presented to the bank in due course In one case it may amount only to a breach of promise if the cheque is not encashed while in the other case it may be prima facie evidence of an intention to cheat. 5 Mohinder Singh Respondent delivered the goods to the Petitioner and others against a post -dated cheque and on the assurance that it will be encashed when presented on due date. The Petitioner and others also made representation which induced the Respondent to deliver the goods to them against a post dated cheque. Applying the ratio of Murari Lal's case (supra), the trial Magistrate has rightly come to the conclusion that a pima facie case against the Petitioner and his companions is made out 6. In the result, the petition fails and is dismissed.;


Click here to view full judgement.
Copyright © Regent Computronics Pvt.Ltd.