Purushothaman P.K. v. Kottayam District Co-Operative Bank

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

PRESENT:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.HARILAL FRIDAY, THE 5TH DAY OF JUNE 2015/15TH JYAISHTA, 1937 Crl.Rev.Pet.No. 183 of 2015 (C1) ------------------------------- AGAINST THE JUDGMENT IN CRL.A 314/2013 of I ADDL. SESSIONS COURT,KOTTAYAM DIVISION DATED 23-10-2014 AGAINST THE JUDGMENT IN ST 40/2012 of J.M.F.C - II, CHENGANACHERRY DATED 30-08-2013 .....

REVISION PETITIONER/APPELLANT/ACCUSED:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PURUSHOTHAMAN P.K., S/O.KUMARAN PANDIMAKKAL HOUSE, VAZHOOR PO, VAZHOOR VILLAGE, CHANGANACHERRY TALUK, KOTTAYAM. BY ADV. SRI.JINU JOSEPH RESPONDENT(S)/RESPONDENTS/COMPLAINANT & STATE: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. KOTTAYAM DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE BANK, PATHANADU BRANCH, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGER MERCYKUTTY, W/O.P.C.CHERIAN, PUSHPAMANGALAM HOUSE, DEVAGIRI P.O., CHANGANACHERRY TALUK, KOTTAYAM-686101.

2. THE STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM. 682 031.

R2 BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SRI.JUSTINE JADOB THIS CRIMINAL REVISION PETITION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 05-06-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: OKB

K.HARILAL, J.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Crl.R.P. No.183 of 2015 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Dated this the 5th day of June, 2015.

O R D E R

This revision petition is filed challenging the concurrent findings of conviction entered and the sentence imposed on the revision petitioner for the offence punishable under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (for short, 'the N.I. Act') in Criminal Appeal No.314/2013 on the files of the court of the I Additional Sessions Judge, Kottayam Division. The above appeal was filed challenging the judgment finding that the revision petitioner is guilty of the said offence, passed in S.T.No.40/2012 on the files of the Judicial First Class Magistrate's Court-II, Changanacherry. According to the impugned judgment, the revision petitioner was sentenced to pay a fine of Rs.1,20,000/- and in default to undergo simple imprisonment for two

Crl.R.P.183/15 :2: months. If the fine amount is realised, it was directed to be paid to the complainant bank as compensation under Section 357(1) of the Cr.P.C. 2.The learned counsel for the revision petitioner reiterated the contentions which were raised before the courts below and got rejected concurrently. The learned counsel urged for a re-appreciation of evidence once again, which is not permissible under the revisional jurisdiction unless any kind of perversity is found in the appreciation of evidence. The revision petitioner failed to point out any kind of perversity in the appreciation of evidence or illegality or impropriety in the findings whereby the trial court convicted him.

3.The courts below had concurrently found that the complainant/1st respondent had successfully discharged the initial burden of proving execution and issuance of the cheque; whereas the revision petitioner had failed to rebut the presumption under

Crl.R.P.183/15 :3: Section 118(a) and 139 of the N.I. Act which stood in favour of the 1st respondent. So also, it is found that the debt due to the 1st respondent was a legally enforceable debt and Ext.P2 cheque was duly executed and issued in discharge of the said debt.

4.This Court is satisfied that the courts below had meticulously evaluated the evidence on record. I do not find any kind of illegality or impropriety in the said findings or perversity in the appreciation of evidence, from which the above findings had been arrived at. Therefore, I am not inclined to reappreciate entire evidence once again and I confirm the concurrent findings of conviction.

5.At last, the learned counsel for the revision petitioner submits that the grievance is confined to sentence alone. The learned counsel further sought for some time to pay the fine as he is unable to raise the said amount forthwith due to paucity of funds.

Crl.R.P.183/15 :4: 6.The Supreme Court, in the decision in Kaushalya Devi Massand v. Roopkishore [AIR 2011 SC 2566], held that the offence under Section 138 of the N.I. Act is almost in the nature of civil wrong which has been given criminal overtone, and imposition of fine payable as compensation is sufficient to meet the ends of justice. Further, in Vijayan v. Baby [2011(4) KLT 355], Supreme Court held that the direction to pay the compensation by way of restitution in regard to the loss on account of the dishonour of the cheque should be practical and realistic.

So, in a prosecution under Section 138 of the N.I. Act, the compensatory aspect of remedy should be given much priority over punitive aspect.

7.Having regard to the nature and gravity of the offence, in the light of the decisions quoted above and submission made at the Bar, expressing willingness to pay the fine, I am inclined to grant five months time to pay the fine. Consequently, this revision petition will stand disposed of subject to

Crl.R.P.183/15 :5: the following terms:

i.

The revision petitioner shall pay a fine of Rs.1,20,000/- (Rupees One lakh twenty thousand only) within a period of five months from today and the same shall be given to the 1st respondent/complainant, as compensation under Section 357(1)(b) of the Cr.P.C.

ii. In default, he shall undergo simple imprisonment for a period of two months.

The criminal revision petition is disposed of accordingly.

Sd/- K. HARILAL, JUDGE okb.