Vicarious liability under the Negotiable Instruments Act requires specific averments of authority and responsibility; absence undermines the complaint.
Applicability of vicarious liability in cheque bounce offences under the Negotiable Instruments framework turns on whether the complaint pleads that the accused was in charge of and responsible for the conduct of the firm's business when the offence occurred; resignation is a matter of evidence and allegations of partnership alone are insufficient without specific averments of authority and responsibility.