2026 (6) TMI 519

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

.... 136 of the Constitution of India, challenging the order dated 15.09.2025 passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in CRR-2294-2025 (O&M). Vide the impugned order, the High Court dismissed the appellant's revision petition, thereby affirming the judgment of conviction dated 18.07.2023 and the order of sentence dated 20.07.2023 passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMIC), Faridabad. 3. The foundational proceedings stem from a criminal complaint (NACT/10200/2018) filed by the respondent, Manju Aggarwal, under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (hereinafter referred as "the NI Act"). 4. The primary contention raised by the appellant at this stage is of compounding the offence in light of a co....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... The appellant challenged the said order of conviction by filing Criminal Appeal, being CRA No. 335 of 2023, before Additional Sessions Judge, Faridabad. The Appellate Court vide order dated 25.08.2025 dismissed the said appeal. The appellant, therefore, filed the Criminal Revision Application, being CRR No. 2294 of 2025, before the High Court. The High Court dismissed the said revision application vide order dated 15.09.2025. Hence, the present petition. 10. The records indicate that the appellant has been in custody since 25.08.2025 and has already undergone sentence of more than 2 months. 11. Heard learned counsel for the appellant and the respondent and perused the material available on record. 12. Learned counsel for the appe....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

....ew years, this Court is of the view that it is time to 'revisit and tweak the guidelines'. Accordingly, the aforesaid guidelines of compounding are modified as under:- (a) If the accused pays the cheque amount before recording of his evidence (namely defence evidence), then the Trial Court may allow compounding of the offence without imposing any cost or penalty on the accused. (b) If the accused makes the payment of the cheque amount post the recording of his evidence but prior to the pronouncement of judgment by the Trial Court, the Magistrate may allow compounding of the offence on payment of additional 5% of the cheque amount with the Legal Services Authority or such other Authority as the Court deems fit. (c)....