Revisional court cannot add interim compensation as a bail condition where the statute reserves that power to the trial court.

Section 143A of the Negotiable Instruments Act reserves interim compensation to the trial court during pendency of the trial, and that statutory power cannot be assumed by the revisional court while granting bail. A bail order may include lawful conditions, but it cannot impose a monetary deposit by way of interim compensation where the statute assigns that function to another court and provides a specific mechanism for recovery and adjustment. The condition requiring deposit of 20% of the cheque amount was therefore without authority of law and was quashed, while the bail relief otherwise granted was left undisturbed.

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Issues: Whether the revisional court could, while granting bail in a prosecution under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, direct deposit of 20% of the cheque amount when the power to order interim compensation under Section 143A of the Act is vested in the trial court.

Analysis: Section 143A authorises only the trial court to direct interim compensation, and that power operates in the manner specified by the provision during the pendency of the trial. The revisional court granted bail, but the additional monetary condition was not part of the statutory scheme governing bail and could not be imposed merely on the basis of an alleged default in another matter. The provisions relating to recovery of interim compensation and adjustment against fine or compensation further show that the legislature has provided a specific mechanism for such orders, which must be exercised by the court empowered under the statute.

Conclusion: The condition directing payment of 20% of the cheque amount was without authority of law and was liable to be set aside.

Final Conclusion: The impugned monetary condition attached to the bail order was quashed, while the bail relief otherwise granted remained undisturbed.

Ratio Decidendi: A revisional court cannot impose, as a bail condition, payment of interim compensation that the statute reserves to the trial court under Section 143A of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

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