Non-signatory joint account holders cannot be prosecuted u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for cheque dishonor.

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....Dishonor of cheque - Proceedings against the Joint Account Holder who is not the signatory of the cheque - Section 138 of the NI Act does not speak about the joint liability. Even in case of a joint liability, in case of individual persons, a person other than a person who has drawn the cheque on an account maintained by him, cannot be prosecuted for the offence Under Section 138 of the NI Act. A person might have been jointly liable to pay the debt, but if such a person who might have been liable to pay the debt jointly, cannot be prosecuted unless the bank account is jointly maintained and that he was a signatory to the cheque. - HC....