AIR 2015 SUPREME COURT 157 ::2014 AIR SCW 5751 ::AIR 2014 SC (Criminal) 2147 ::2014 ACD 1073 (SC) ::2014 (3) ABR (Cri) 776 ::2014 (4) AIR Kant HCR 562 ::2014 (4) AKR 562 ::(2014) 4 BomCR(Cri) 407 ::(2015) 2 Mh LJ (Cri) 146 ::(2014) 4 CurCriR 109 ::(2015) 2 CivLJ 45 ::(2014) 3 AllCriR 3482 ::2014 CriLR(SC&MP) 977 ::2014 (10) SCC 713 ::2015 (1) SCC (Cri) 226 ::(2014) 4 RecCriR 321 ::(2015) 1 RecCivR 550 ::(2014) 10 Scale 723 ::(2015) 1 ALD(CRL) 26 ::(2014) 4 AllCriLR 737 ::(2014) 4 Cal HN 165 ::(2015) 119 Cut LT 239 ::(2014) 3 Guj LH 389 ::(2014) 5 Gau LT 36 ::(2014) 2 NIJ 412 ::(2015) 2 MPLJ 9 ::(2015) 2 Mah LJ 575 ::(2014) 59 OCR 577 ::(2014) 4 JLJR 427 ::(2014) 4 Ker LT 154 ::(2015) 2 Raj LW 1040 ::(2015) 1 CalLT 1 ::(2014) 87 AllCriC 602 ::(2014) 143 AllIndCas 53 (SC) ::(2014) 5 MPHT 208

Supreme Court Of India

Hon'ble Judge(s): R. M. Lodha, Kurian Joseph, R. F. Nariman , JJJ

(A) Negotiable Instruments Act (26 of 1881) , S.138— Dishonour of cheque - Complaint - Filed before expiry of 15 days from date on which notice has been served on drawer/accused - Is no complaint in eye of law - No cognizance of offence can be taken on basis of such complaint - Fact that on date of consideration of complaint or taking cognizance thereof a period of 15 days has elapsed - Not a ground to take cognizance of complaint. AIR 2000 SC 2946, 2001 CLC 1193 (Kant), 2002 Cri LJ 1522 (All), 2003 (1) Raj LW 673, 2004 Cri LJ 1140 (MP), 2004 (1) Gau LT 652, (2005) 121 DLT 297, 2005 Cri LJ 3681(All), AIR 2007 (NOC) 2132 (JandK), Overruled. Criminal P.C. (2 of 1974) , S.2(d), S.190— Reading of the provision contained in clause (c) of the proviso to S.138 makes it clear that no complaint can be filed for an offence under S. 138 unless the period of 15 days has elapsed. Any complaint before the expiry of 15 days from the date on which the notice has been served on the drawer/accused is no complaint at all in the eye of law. It is not the question of prematurity of the complaint where it is filed before expiry of 15 days from the date on which notice has been served on him, it is no complaint at all under law. As a matter of fact, S. 142 of the Act, inter alia, creates a legal bar on the Court from taking cognizance of an offence under S. 138 exce....