M/S Devgan Rice and General Mills v. M/S Jasbir Bhullar Trading Company and Others

CRM-M-3861-2025 a

IN TH M/s Devgan Rice a M/s Jasbir Bhullar T Piyush Aggarwal Satya Parkash Sing 124-2 Piyush Aggarwal Pritam Parkash Agg CORAM: HON'

Present: Mr.Um for the

Mr. Sa For the (in CR

and other connected cases

HE HIGH COURT OF PUNJA CHANDIGARH

CR and General Mills Vs.

Trading Company and anr

CR Vs.

gal and anr

CR Vs.

garwal and anr ****

BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY ****

mesh Aggarwal, Advocate e petitioner(in CRM-M-3861-202 arun Hans, Advocate e petitioner(s) RM-M-4402-2025 and CRM-M-4

AB AND HARYANA AT RM-M-3861-2025(O&M)

. . . . Petitioner . . . . Respondents RM-M-4402-2025(O&M)

. . . . Petitioner . . . . Respondents RM-M-4405-2025(O&M)

. . . . Petitioner . . . . Respondents Date of Decision:28.01.2025 Y VASHISTH 25). 4405-2025) r

s r

s r

s

o o o o o Pageo2oofo15o

o o o ***o SANJAYoVASHISTH,oJ.o

1.o o Byothisocommonoorderotheoaforesaidothreeopetitionsoareobeingodisposedo of,owhichohaveoarisenooutoofothreeodifferentoordersopassedobyotheodifferentoCourts.o However,otheocommonoquestionoforoconsiderationobeforeothisoCourt,oinvolvedoinoallo theothreeopetitions,oisothat;o "Whethero theo order/directiono ofo makingo paymento ofo 20%o ofo theo compensationo amount/chequeo amounto undero Sectiono 148o ofo theo Negotiableo Instrumentso Act,o 1881o iso sustainableo oro noto ino law,o especiallyo ino viewo ofo theo directionso passedo byo theo Hon'bleo Apexo Court"o o o Directionsoinoallotheoimpugnedoordersohaveobeenoissuedobyotheolearnedo lowero Appellateo Court(s),o whileo decidingo theo application(s)o foro suspensiono ofo sentence/bailo duringo theo pendencyo ofo theo appeal(s)o beforeo it.o Hence,o allo threeo petitionsoareodecidedotogether.o

2.o o TheoaforementionedopetitionsohaveobeenofiledounderoSectiono528oofo BharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023o(foroshort,o'BNSS,o2023'),ochallengingo ordersodatedo24.12.2024o(inoCRM-M-3861-2025),o16.12.2024o(inoCRM-M-4402-2024)o ando 16.12.2024(ino CRM-M-4405-2024)o respectively,o wherebyo Appellateo Court(s)owhileograntingobailotootheopetitioners,oimposedoaoconditionoforodepositingo 20%o ofo theo amounto ofo compensation/chequeo amounto awardedo byo learnedo Trialo CourtoinotheoproceedingsoofoSectiono138oofotheoNegotiableoInstrumentsoAct,o1881o (foroshort,o'theoActoofo1881')o o o o o o Pageo3oofo15o

InoCRM-M-3861-2025,olearnedoSuboDivisionaloJudicialoMagistrate,oPattioino NACT/232/2016ohasofoundotheopetitioneroguiltyoofocommittingoanooffenceoundero Sectiono 138o ofo theo Acto ofo 1881o ando thereupono sentencedo too undergoo rigorouso imprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofosixomonthoalongwithofineoofoRs.5,000/-.oPetitionero wasofurtherodirectedotoopayocompensationoofoRs.2,00,000/-o(Rupeesotwoolacsoonly)o tootheocomplainant(s)(respondent(s)oherein)oasoperoSectiono357(3)oCr.P.C.o TheoAppellateoCourto(SessionsoCourt,oTarnoTaran)owhileograntingobailotootheo petitionerodirectedohimotoodeposito20%oofotheochequeoamount.o Ino CRM-M-4402-2025,o learnedo Judicialo Magistrateo Firsto Class,o Hisaro ino NACT/1454/2020ohasofoundotheopetitioneroguiltyoofocommittingoanooffenceoundero Sectiono 138o ofo theo Acto ofo 1881o ando thereupono sentencedo too undergoo simpleo imprisonmento foro ao periodo ofo oneo year.o Petitionero waso furthero directedo too payo compensationoofoRs.22,50,000/-o(Rupeesotwenty-twoolacsoandofiftyothousandoonly)o tootheocomplainanto(respondentoherein)oasoperoSectiono143(1)o(Proviso)oofotheoActo 1881,oreadowithoSectiono357(1)(3)oCr.P.Cowithinoaoperiodoofooneomonthofromotheo passingoofotheoJudgment.oo TheoAppellateoCourto(AdditionaloSessionsoJudge,oHisar),owhileograntingobailo tootheopetitionerodirectedohimotoopayo20%oofotheocompensationoamountoandoonoits'o deposit,obalanceoamountoshalloremainostayed.o Ino CRM-M-4405-2025,o learnedo Judicialo Magistrateo Firsto Class,o Hisaro ino NACT/1453/2020ohasofoundotheopetitioneroguiltyoofocommittingoanooffenceoundero Sectiono 138o ofo theo Acto ofo 1881o ando thereupono sentencedo too undergoo simpleo imprisonmento foro ao periodo ofo oneo year.o Petitionero waso furthero directedo too payo o o o o o Pageo4oofo15o

compensationo ofo Rs.30,00,000/-o (Rupeeso thirtyo lacso only)o too theo complainanto (respondentoherein)oasoperoSectiono143(1)o(Proviso)oofotheoActo1881,oreadowitho Sectiono357(1)(3)oCr.P.Cowithinoaoperiodoofooneomonthofromotheopassingoofotheo Judgment.oTheoAppellateoCourto(AdditionaloSessionsoJudge,oHisar),owhileograntingo bailo too theopetitionero directedo too payo 20%o ofo theo compensationo amounto ono its'o deposit,obalanceoamountoshalloremainostayed.o

2.o o Inotheoappealsofiledobyotheorespectiveopetitioners,owhileograntingobailotoo theoappellantso(petitionersoherein)oaoconditionohasobeenoimposedotoodeposito20%oofo theo compensation/chequeo amounto aso awardedo byo learnedo Trialo Court.o Learnedo counseloforotheopetitioner(s),oarguedothatolearnedoAppellateoCourtohasonotofollowedo theo lawo laido byo Hon'bleo Supremeo Court,o whileo dealingo witho theo provisionso ofo Sectiono148oofotheoActoofo1881.oo Learnedo counselo foro theo petitioner(s)o reliedo upono theo judgmento ofo theo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourt,o'JamboooBhandarioVs.oMadhyaoPradeshoStateoIndustrialo DevelopmentoCorporationoLimitedoandoothers,o(2023)o10oSupremeoCourtocaseso 446,oandosubmitothatotheoHon'bleoApexoCourtohasolaidodownocertainoparameterso whileoconsideringoSectiono148oofotheoActoofo1881oforotheopurposeoofointerpretation.oo

3.oo o Inoaoway,oitohasobeenoheldothatotheoobjectoofoSectiono148oofotheoActoofo 1881o iso noto mandatoryo too beo followedo rather,o ito iso directiveo ando theo requiredo directionotoopayo oro deposito 20%o ofotheo compensation/chequeo amount,o whichoiso maximumoinonatureoisotoobeopassedoafteroexaminingotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofo theocaseobeforeoit.oLearnedocounselofurtherocontendsothatoitoisoopenoforotheoAppellateo Courtotooexamineotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheocaseoandoevenoif,oexceptionalo o o o o o Pageo5oofo15o

circumstancesoareothere,otheodirectionotoodeposito20%oofotheocompensationoamounto canoeitherobeowaivedoofocompletelyooroitocanobeoreducedotootheolevelowhichoappellateo Courtodeemsoitoappropriate.oLearnedocounseloforotheopetitioner(s)oalsooreliesoupono theojudgmentoofoHon'bleoApexoCourtoino'BijayoAgarwaloVs.oM/soMedilines',o2024o

(4)o Lawo Heraldo (SC)o 3560,Lawo Findero Doco Ido #2670187',o ando o 'Muskano EnterprisesoandoanotheroVs.oTheoStateoofoPunjaboandoanother',o2024oSCCoOnlineo SCo4107,oLawoFinderoDocoIdo#2680202',oo

4.o o Aftero examiningotheo impugnedoordero andotheo manneroino whicho theo directionotoodeposito20%oofotheocompensationoamountohasobeenoissued,othisoCourtoiso ofotheoviewothatodisputeoraisedothroughotheopresentopetitionocanobeodecidedoinolimnio ando withouto callingotheoothero sideo here,obecauseo theo wayo thiso Courto intendsotoo disposeo ofo theo presento petitions,o noo prejudiceo wouldo beo sufferedo byo theo complainant(s)oquaotheirorights.oFirstoofoall,oprovisionoofoSectiono430oofoBNSS,o 2023,o whicho iso substitutedo provisiono ofo Sectiono 389o ofo Cr.P.C.,o iso reproducedo herebelow"o "430.oSuspensionoofosentenceopendingoappeal;oreleaseoofoappellantoono bail.o1)oPendingoanyoappealobyoaoconvictedoperson,otheoAppellateoCourto may,ofororeasonsotoobeorecordedobyoitoinowriting,oorderothatotheoexecutiono ofotheosentenceooroorderoappealedoagainstobeosuspendedoand,oalso,oifoheoiso inoconfinement,othatoheobeoreleasedoonobail,ooroonohisoownobondoorobailo bond:oo ProvidedothatotheoAppellateoCourtoshall,obeforeoreleasingoonohisoownobondo orobailobondoaoconvictedopersonowhooisoconvictedoofoanooffenceopunishableo withodeathooroimprisonmentoforolifeooroimprisonmentoforoaotermoofonotolesso thanotenoyears,oshallogiveoopportunityotootheoPublicoProsecutoroforoshowingo causeoinowritingoagainstosuchorelease:o o o o o o Pageo6oofo15o

oProvidedofurtherothatoinocasesowhereoaoconvictedopersonoisoreleasedoono bailoitoshallobeoopenotootheoPublicoProsecutorotoofileoanoapplicationoforotheo cancellationoofotheobail.oo

(2)oTheopoweroconferredobyothisosectionoonoanoAppellateoCourtomayobeo exercisedoalsoobyotheoHighoCourtoinotheocaseoofoanoappealobyoaoconvictedo personotooaoCourtosubordinateothereto.oo

(3)o Whereo theo convictedo persono satisfieso theo Courto byo whicho heo iso convictedothatoheointendsotoopresentoanoappeal,otheoCourtoshall,—oo

(i)owhereosuchoperson,obeingoonobail,oisosentencedotooimprisonmentoforoao termonotoexceedingothreeoyears;ooroo

(ii)o whereo theo offenceo ofo whicho sucho persono haso beeno convictedo iso ao bailableoone,oo andoheoisoonobail,oorderothatotheoconvictedopersonobeoreleasedoonobail,o unlessothereoareospecialoreasonsofororefusingobail,oforosuchoperiodoasowillo affordosufficientotimeotoopresentotheoappealoandoobtainotheoordersoofotheo AppellateoCourtounderosub-sectiono(1);oandotheosentenceoofoimprisonmento shall,osoolongoasoheoisosooreleasedoonobail,obeodeemedotoobeosuspended.oo

(4)oWhenotheoappellantoisoultimatelyosentencedotooimprisonmentoforoaotermo orotooimprisonmentoforolife,otheotimeoduringowhichoheoisosooreleasedoshallo beoexcludedoinocomputingotheotermoforowhichoheoisosoosentenced.o

5.o Ino theo aforementionedo provisiono ofo BNSSo oro eveno theo earliero codeo i.e.o Cr.P.C.owhileoconsideringotheopleaoofobailoinoanoappealobyoanoAppellateoCourtoorobyo theo Higho Court,o theo concepto ofo paymento ofo compensationo oro non-paymento ofo compensation,oifoorderedobyoFirstoCourtoisocompletelyomissing.o

6.o InoJamboooBhandari'socaseo(supra),otheoviewotakenobyotheoHon'bleoApexo CourtoinoSurinderoSinghoDeswaloVs.oVirenderoGandhi,o(2019)o11oSCCo(oCri)o461',o hasobeenodiscussed,owherein,otheoobjectoandoreasonoofotheoamendmentoinoSectiono 148oofotheoActoofo1881ohasobeenodiscussed.oRelevantoparagraphsoareoreproducedo herebelow:o CRM-M-3861-2025 and other connected cases

"5. The paragraph `8' of the decision of this Court in the case of Surinder Singh Deswal Alias Colonel S.S. Deswal and Others (2019) 11 SCC 341 reads thus: -o "8. Now so far as the submission on behalf of the appellants that even considering the language used in section 148 of the NI Act as amended, the appellate court "may" order the appellant to deposit such sum which shall be a minimum of 20% of the fine or compensation awarded by the trial court and the word used is not "shall" and therefore the discretion is vested with the first appellate court has construed it as mandatory, which according to the learned Senior Advocate for the appellants would be contrary to the provisions of section 148 of the NI Act as amended is concerned, considering the amended section 148 of the NI Act as a whole to be read with the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the amending section 148 of the NI Act, the word used is "may", it is generally to be construed as a "rule" or "shall" and not to direct to deposit by the appellate court is an exception for which special reasons are to be assigned. Therefore amended section 148 of the NI Act confers power upon the appellate court to pass an order pending appeal to direct the appellant-accused to deposit the sum which shall not be less than 20% of the fine or compensation either on an application filed by the original complainant or even on the application filed by the appellant-accused under section 389 CrPC, 1973 to suspend the sentence. The aforesaid is required to be construed considering the fact that as per the amended section 148 of the NI Act, a minimum of 20% of the fine or compensation awarded by the trial court is directed to be deposited and that such amount is to be deposited within a period of 60 days from the date of the order, or within such further period not exceeding 30 days as may be directed by the appellate court for sufficient cause shown by the appellant. Therefore, if amended section 148 of the NI Act is purposively interpreted in section 148 of the NI Act, but also section 138 of the NI Act. The Negotiable Instruments Act has been amended from time to time so as to provide, inter alia, speedy disposal of cases relating to the offence of the dishonour of cheques. So as to see that due to delay tactics by the unscrupulous drawers of the dishonoured cheques due to easy filing of the appeals and obtaining stay in the proceedings, an injustice was caused to the payee of a dishonoured cheque, who has to spend considerable time and resources in the court proceedings to realise the value of the cheque and having observed that such delay has compromised the sanctity of the cheque transactions. Parliament has thought it fit to amend section 148 of the NI Act. Therefore, such a purposive interpretation would be in furtherance of the Objects and Reasons of the amendment in section 148 of the NI Act and also section 138 of the NI Act.o CRM-M-3861-2025 and other connected cases

¶6What is held by this Court is that a purposive interpretation should be made of section 148 of the N.I. Act. Hence, normally, Appellate Court will be justified in imposing the condition of deposit as provided in Section 148. However, in a case where the Appellate Court is satisfied that the condition of deposit of 20% will be unjust or imposing such a condition will amount to deprivation of the right of appeal of the appellant, exception can be made for the reasons specifically recorded.o

¶7Therefore, when Appellate Court considers the prayer under section 389 of the Cr.P.C., 1973 of an accused who has been convicted for offence under section 138 of the N.I. Act, it is always open for the Appellate Court to consider whether it is an exceptional case which warrants grant of suspension of sentence without imposing the condition of deposit of 20% of the fine/compensation amount. As stated earlier, if the Appellate Court comes to the conclusion that it is an exceptional case, the reasons for coming to the said conclusion must be recorded.o

¶8The submission of the learned counsel appearing for the original complainant is that neither before the Sessions Court nor before the High Court , there was a plea made by the appellants that an exception may be made in these cases and the requirement of deposit or minimum 20% of the amount be dispensed with. He submits that if such a prayer was not made by the appellants, there were no reasons for the Courts to consider the said plea.o

¶9We disagree with the above submission. When an accused applies under section 389 of the Cr.P.C., 1973 for suspension of sentence, he normally applies for grant of relief of suspension of sentence without any condition. Therefore, when a blanket order is sought by the appellants, the Court has to consider whether the case falls in exception or not.o

¶10In these cases, both the Sessions Courts and the High Court have proceeded on the erroneous premise that deposit of minimum 20% amount is an absolute rule which does not accommodate any exception.o

¶11The learned counsel appearing for the appellants, at this stage, states that the appellants have deposited 20% of the compensation amount. However, this is the matter to be examined by the High Court .o

¶12In these circumstances, we set aside the impugned orders of the High Court and restore the revision petitions filed by the appellants before the High Court . We direct the parties to appear before the roster Bench of the High Court on 09.10.2023 in the morning to enable the High Court to fix a date for hearing of the revision petitions. As the contesting parties are before the Court , it will not be necessary for the High Court to issue a notice of the date fixed for hearing. The High Court , after hearing the parties, will consider whether 20% of the amount is already deposited or not. If the Court comes to the conclusion that 20% of the amount is not deposited, the Court will re-examine the Revision Petitions in the light of what we have observed in this judgment. Till the disposal of the restored Revision Petitions, the interim order passed by this Court ordering suspension of sentence will continue to operate.o o o o o o o Pageo9oofo15o

7.o InoBijayoAgarwal'socaseo(supra)o,theoHon'bleoApexoCourtohasoalsoonoticedo theoobservationomadeoinoJamboooBhandari'socaseoandothereupon,oobservationsoino paragraphoNos.o17oando18oareoreproducedoherebelow:o "17.o Ino theo decisiono ino `Jambooo Bhandario v.o Madhyao Pradesho Stateo IndustrialoDevelopmentoCorporationoLimitedoandoOrs.o(2023)o10oSCCo446'o thisoCourtoheldothatoanoAppellateoCourtoinoanoappealoagainstoconvictiono undero Sectiono138,o NIo Act,o couldo noto placeo ao conditiono too deposito ano amountoinvokingotheopowerounderoSectiono148(1),oNIoAct,omechanicallyo withouto consideringo whethero theo caseo fallso withino exceptionalo circumstances.o Ino viewo ofo theo saido expositiono ofo law,o theo AppellateoCourtooughto too haveo consideredo theo aforesaido aspectso aso ito wouldocertainlyobeoanoexceptionalocircumstanceotooexemptotheoappellanto whooisonototheo`drawer'oofotheochequeoconcernedotoodepositotheoamounto payableounderoSectiono148(1)obyoanoappellantowhooisotheo`drawer'oofotheo cheque.oInotheocaseoonohand,otheoHighoCourtohasofailedotooconsiderotheseo crucialoaspectsoinotheolightoofotheodictumolaidodownobyothisoCourtoinotheo decisionsoreferredosupraowhileoconsideringotheoapplicationoforosuspensiono ofo sentenceo foro theo convictiono undero Sectiono138oofo theo NIo Acto ino theo pendingoappeal.o

18.oTheoupshotoofotheodiscussionoisothatotheseoappealsoshouldosucceedoando consequently,o ito iso allowed.o Theo impugnedo commono ordero datedo

09.01.2024o passedo byo theo HighoCourtoofo Karnatakao ato Bengaluruo ino Criminalo Petitiono Nos.13095/2023o ando 13153/2023o iso seto aside.o Accordingly,otheoordersodatedo10.11.2023opassedobyotheoPrincipaloCityo Civilo&oSessionsoJudgeoatoBangaloreorespectivelyoinoCriminaloAppealoNo.o 1537/2023oando1536/2023ostandsoquashedoandosetoasideotootheoextentoitoputo theoconditionotoodepositoofo20%oofotheofineoamountopayableounderoordersoino CCo Nos.13937/2023o ando 13938/2013,o passedo byo theoCourtoofo XXXVIo AdditionaloChiefoMetropolitanoMagistrate,oBangaloreoCityoandorestoreotheo ordersodatedo10.11.2023osuspendingotheosentenceoofotheoappellantoinobotho theocases,owithotheocondition(s)oimposedoquaoexecutionoofobondoandoono sucho executiono ito willo remaino ino forceo tillo theo disposalo ofo theo aboveo mentionedoappealsopendingobeforeotheoFirstoAppellateoCourtoconcerned."o o o o o o o Pageo10oofo15o

o

8.o Again,oinotheocaseoofo'MuskanoEnterpriseso(supra)'oHon'bleotheoApexoCourto hasonoticedocertainoadditionaloparameters,owhichorequiredotoobeolookedointooinosucho likeocases,owhichoreadsothus:o "27.o Weomayotakeotheodiscussionoaolittleoforwardotooemphasizeoouropointo ofo view.o Thereo couldo ariseo ao caseo beforeo theo AppellateoCourtowhereo suchocourtoisocapableoofoformingoanoopinion,oevenoinocourseoofoconsideringo asotoowhatowouldobeotheoappropriateoquantumoofofineoorocompensationotoo beo kepto ino deposit,o thato theo impugnedo convictiono ando theo consequento sentenceorecorded/imposedobyotheotrialocourtoisosoowhollyoincorrectoando erroneousothatoitoisoonlyoaomatteroofotimeoforotheosameotoobeosetoasideoando thato orderingo ao deposito wouldo beo unnecessarilyo burdensomeo foro theo appellant.oSuchofirmoopinionocouldobeoformedoonoaoplainoreadingoofotheo order,o sucho as,o theo convictiono mighto haveo beeno recordedo ando sentenceo imposedowithoutoadherenceotootheomandatoryoproceduralorequirementsoofo theo N.I.o Acto prioro to/ato theo timeo lodgingo ofo theo complainto byo theo complainantorenderingotheoproceedingsovitiated,oorotheotrialocourtomighto haveo rejectedo admissibleo evidenceo fromo beingo ledo and/oro reliedo ono inadmissibleo evidenceo whicho waso permittedo too beo led,o oro theo trialocourtomightohaveorecordedoanoorderoofoconvictionowhichoisoitsoipseo dixit,owithoutoanyoassessment/analysisoofotheoevidenceoand/orototallyomis-appreciatingotheoevidenceoonorecord,oorotheotrialocourtomightohaveopassedo anoorderofailingotoodiscloseoapplicationoofomindoand/orosufficientoreasonso therebyo establishingo theo linko betweeno theo appellanto ando theo offence,o allegedoandofoundotoobeoproved,oorothatotheocompensationoawardedoisosoo excessiveoandooutrageousothatoitofailsotoomeetotheoproportionalityotesto:oallo that,owhichowouldoevinceoanoorderotoobeoinodefianceoofotheoapplicableolawo and,othus,oliableotoobeolabelledoasoperverse.oTheseoinstances,owhichoareo merelyoillustrativeoandonotoexhaustive,omayonotoariseotooofrequentlyobutoitso possibilityocannotobeocompletelyoruledoout.oItowouldoamountotooaotravestyo ofojusticeoifoexerciseoofodiscretion,owhichoisopermittedobyotheolegislatureo andocouldoindeedobeocalledoforoinosituationsosuchoasotheseopointedoouto above,o oro ino anyo othero appropriateo situation,o iso noto permittedo too beo exercisedo byo theo AppellateoCourtobyo ao judicialo interpretationo ofo 'may'o o o o o o Pageo11oofo15o

beingoreadoaso'shall'oinosub-sectiono(1)oofoSectiono148oandotheoaggrievedo appellantoisocompelledotoomakeoaodepositoofominimumo20%oofotheofineooro compensationo awardedo byo theo trialocourto,o notwithstandingo anyo opiniono thato theo AppellateoCourtomighto haveo formedo ato theo stageo ofo orderingo deposito aso regardso invalidityo ofo theo convictiono ando sentenceo undero challengeoonoanyovalidoground.oReadingo'may'oaso'may'oleadsotootheotexto matchingotheocontextoand,otherefore,oitoseemsotoobeojustoandoproperonototoo denudeo theo AppellateoCourtoofo ao limitedo discretiono conferredo byo theo legislatureo ando thato is,o exerciseo ofo theo powero ofo noto orderingo deposito altogetheroalbeitoinoaorare,ofitoandoappropriateocaseowhichocommendsotoo theoAppellateoCourtoasoexceptional.oWhileothereocanobeonoogainsayingothato normallyo theo discretiono ofo theo AppellateoCourtoshouldo leano towardso requiringo ao deposito too beo madeo witho theo quantumo ofo sucho deposito dependingouponotheofactualosituationoinoeveryoindividualocase,omoreosoo becauseoanoorderounderochallengeodoesonotobearotheomarkoofoinvalidityoono itsoforehead,oretentionoofotheopoweroofosuchocourtonototooorderoanyodeposito ino ao giveno caseo (whicho ino itso viewo ando foro theo recordedo reasonso iso exceptional)oandocallingoforoexerciseoofotheodiscretionotoonotoorderodeposit,o hasotoobeoconceded.oIfoindeedotheolegislativeointentowereonototooleaveoanyo discretiono too theo AppellateoCourto,o thereo iso littleo reasono aso too whyo theo legislatureodidonotoalsoouseo'shall'oinsteadoofo'may'oinosub-sectiono(1).oSinceo theoself-sameosection,oreadoasoaowhole,orevealsothato'may'ohasobeenousedo twiceoando'shall'othrice,oitomustobeopresumedothatotheolegislatureowasowello andotrulyoawareoofotheowordsousedowhichoformotheoskinoofotheolanguage.o Readingoandounderstandingotheowordsousedobyotheolegislatureoinotheoliteralo senseodoesonotoalsooresultoinomanifestoabsurdityoandohenceotinkeringowitho theosameooughtotoobeoavoidedoatoallocosts.oWeowould,otherefore,oreado'may'o aso'may'oando'shall'oaso'shall',owhereverotheyoareousedoinoSectiono148.oThiso isobecause,otheowordsomeanowhatotheyosay.o

28.o Ino sucho viewo ofo theo mattero ando foro theo foregoingo reasons,oweo areo unhesitatinglyo ofo theo viewo thatotheo impugnedo ordero ofo theo HighoCourtodecliningotooentertainotheosubsequentopetitionounderoSectiono 482,oCr.oPCoofotheoappellantsoisounsustainableoinolaw.oHowever,oweodoonoto considerotheoneedotooremitotheomatterotootheoHighoCourtoforoconsiderationo ofotheosubsequentopetitionounderoSectiono482,oCr.oPC;oinstead,oinoouroview,o justiceowouldobeosufficientlyoservedoifotheoSessionsoCourtore-examinesotheo issueoofodepositobeingorequiredotoobeomadeobyotheoappellantsoinotheolightoofo o o o o o Pageo12oofo15o

theolawolaidodownoinoJamboooBhandario(supra)oandotheoobservationsomadeo hereinabove.o

29.oConsequently,otheoimpugnedoorderoofotheoHighoCourtodatedo18thoMay,o 2024oandotheoSessionsoCourt'soorderodatedo17thoOctober,o2022,ostandoseto aside.oTheomatteroisoremittedotootheoSessionsoCourtotoore-examineotheoissueo ofoorderingodeposit.oWhetherosufficientogroundohasobeenomadeooutobyotheo appellantsotoopersuadeotheoSessionsoCourtonototooorderoanyodepositoisolefto entirelyotooitsodiscretionoandosatisfaction.oWeodoonotoexpressoanyoopiniono onotheopleaothatotheoappellantsohaveosoughtotooadvanceobeforeous,olestoanyo partyoseeksotooderiveoanyoadvantage.oAllopointsoareoleftoopen.o

9.o o Whileo dealingo witho Sectiono 148o ofo theo Acto ofo 1881,o ino Jambooo Bhandari'socaseo(supra)ocertainocircumstancesowhichomayobeothereoinoaoparticularo appealohaveobeenoanticipatedoandothereuponoobservedothat:o

(i)o Ito wouldo noto beo justifiedo foro Appellateo Courto too mandatorilyo imposeo ao conditionoofodepositoofo20%oofocompensationoamountoifoitorecordsoitsosatisfactiono thato impositionoofo sucho ao conditionoupono theoappellanto mayo depriveoaogenuineo litiganto fromo righto ofo appeal.o Thus,o byo recordingo ito aso ano exceptionalo reasono conditionoofodepositoofo20%oofocompensationoamountocanobeowaivedooffoororeduced;o

(ii)oIrrespectiveoofotheopleaotakenobyotheoappellant/convictoofoconsideringohisocaseo ofoexceptionalocircumstances,oitowouldobeoobligatoryoforotheoAppellateoCourtowhileo dealingowithotheopleaoofosuspensionoofosentenceotooexamineoifotheocaseobeforeoito actuallyofallsowithinotheoexceptionsooronot;o

(iii)oDepositoofominimumo20%oamountounderoSectiono148oofotheoActoofo1881oisothuso notomandatoryooroanoabsoluteorule,ounlessosameoisoexaminedothoroughlyoifotheocaseo canobeoaccommodatedowithinotheoexceptions.o o o o o o Pageo13oofo15o

o Ino Muskaan'so caseo (supra)o theo concepto ofo deposito ofo 20%o ofo theo compensationoamountomandatorily,ohasobeenodilutedomoreobyoobservingothatowordo 'may'oisotoobeoreadoaso'may'oandowordo'shall'oisotoobeoreadoaso'shall'oandosameoiso notorequiredotoobeotinkeredowith,owhileoreadingoSectiono148oofotheoActoofo1881.o

10.o o IfotheoratiooofotheoaforementionedolawolaidodownobyoHon'bleoApexo Courtoisoappliedotootheoimpugnedoorder(s)opassedobyotheoAppellateoCourtoinotheo appealoproceedings,othiso Courtofindsothato theoimpugnedoorder(s)oiso almostonon-speakingoandonotoevenodealingowithoanyoofotheogrounds,owhichooughtotoohaveobeeno noticedoandothenodecidedoaccordingly.o Atothisostage,oinsteadoofoexaminingotheoordersoatolengthoorobyocallingotheo otherosideoandobyokeepingoinomindotheoguidelinesolaidodownobyoHon'bleoApexoCourto inoJambooobhandari'socaseo(supra)oandoMuskanoEnterprisesocaseo(supra),othiso Courtodeemsoitoappropriateotoosetoasideotheoimpugnedodirectionsoissuedovideoorderso datedo24.12.2024,o16.12.2024oando16.12.2024orespectively,otootheoextentoofoissuingo directionotoopayodeposit/toopayo20%ocompensationoamountooroanyolesseroamount,oaso theosameohasobeenopassedowithoutoexaminingotheocircumstancesoinoitsoentirety.o

11.o o Resultantly,o allo theo aforementionedo threeo petitionso areo allowedo ando impugnedoordersodatedo24.12.2024opassedobyolearnedoSessionsoJudge,oTarnoTaran,o

16.12.2024opassedobyolearnedoAdditionaloSessionsoJudge,oHisaroando16.12.2024o passedo byo learnedo Additionalo Sessionso Judge,o Hisaro respectively,o passedo ino aforementionedo threeo petitionso areo herebyo quashed/seto asideo too theo extento ofo o o o o o Pageo14oofo15o

imposingoofodirectionotoodeposito20%oofotheocompensation/chequeoamountoissuedo byotheoAppellateocourt.oo o o Itoisoalsooclarifiedothatotheoorderoofosuspensionoofosentenceowouldonoto beodisturbedoinoanyomanneroandotheosameowouldobeosubjectotootheoobservations,o whichoareoyetotoobeomadeobyotheoAppellateoCourtowhileodealingowithoprovisionsoofo Sectiono148oofotheoActoofo1881.o

12.o o Itoisofurtherodirectedothatotheoquestionoofomakingocomplianceoofotheo directionsoofolawoi.e.oSectiono148oofotheoActoofo1881,otoodepositoamountouptoo20%o ofotheocompensationoamount,oasoawardedobyolearnedoTrialoCourtowouldobeodecidedo afreshoinoaccordanceowitholaw,oafteroaffordingoreasonableoopportunityotoobothotheo sideso ando byo followingo theo observationso madeo byo theo Hon'bleo Apexo Courto ino Jambooobhandari'socaseo(supra)oandoMuskanoEnterprisesocaseo(supra).o

13.o ThisoCourtoalsoorealizesothatosimilaroordersopassedounderoSectiono148oofotheo NegotiableoInstrumentsoAct,o1881,oareobeingochallengedoalmostoonodailyobasisoino numberoofopetitions,oandoinomostoofotheocases,osuchoordersoareobeingopassedowithouto evenonoticingotheomandateoofolaw,olaidodownobyotheoHon'bleoApexoCourtoinotheo caseso ofo Jambooo Bhandari'so caseo (supra)o ando Muskaan'so caseo (supra).o Therefore,otooavoidomultiplicityoofolitigationoandorepeatedofilingoofocasesobeforeothiso Court,o ito iso imperativeo too sensitizeo theo Courtso belowo whereo theo appealo oro applicationso undero Sectiono 148o ofo theo Negotiableo Instrumentso Act,o 1881,o areo pendingoorofiled,oaboutotheoaforementionedomandateoofolawolaidobyotheoHon'bleo ApexoCourtothroughoitsojudgmentsoinotheocasesoofoJamboooBhandari'socaseo(supra)o andoMuskaan'socaseo(supra).ooAccordingly,otheoRegistryoisodirectedotoocirculateoao o o o o o Pageo15oofo15o

copyoofothisoorderotooallotheoSessionoDivisionsoinotheoStatesoofoPunjab,oHaryanaoando UnionoTerritory,oChandigarh,oforoinformationoandonecessaryocompliance.o o o Withotheoaforesaidoobservations,otheopresentopetition(s)oareoallowedo andothus,osameoareodisposedoof.oo (SANJAYoVASHISTH)o oooo JUDGEo

28.01.2025o Rashmio

1.oWhetherospeaking/reasoned?oo o Yes/Noo

2.oWhetheroreportable?o o o o Yes/Noo o