<h1>Amendment to Negotiable Instruments Act Centralizes Jurisdiction for Cheque Dishonor Cases u/s 138.</h1> The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Act, 2015, effective from June 15, 2015, addresses jurisdictional issues for cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, which deals with cheque dishonor offenses. It mandates that cases be filed in the court where the payee's bank branch is located, except for bearer cheques, which are handled by the drawee bank's local court. The amendment aims to centralize cases against the same drawer, enhancing the credibility of cheques and simplifying the legal process for financial institutions. This change follows a Supreme Court ruling that limited jurisdiction to where the cheque was dishonored.