by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Jun 27, 2025 | Criminal Matter
Can I lodge a complaint against the managing director and chairman of the company in a cheque bounce case? The managing director and chairman have issued a cheque after settlement of dues. I have huge financial dues upon the company. In order to settle the outstanding the company organised a meeting. In that meeting the managing director and chairman of the company agreed to pay dues in three equal installments. In the first installment the company will pay 25% dues and the rest of the dues will pay in two installments as 35% & 40% respectively. I received a check for the first installment. When I deposited that cheque for encashment it had bounced. A demand notice was sent but it is unanswered. Now I am going to lodge a complaint under section 138 NI Act. I want to know whether I can lodge that complaint against the managing director and chairman also.
Asked from: Delhi
The Managing Director is ordinarily vicariously liable for offences committed by the company under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, as he is presumed to be in charge of, and responsible for, the conduct of the business of the company.
As far as the Chairman is concerned, his liability under Section 138 NI Act depends on his involvement in the day-to-day affairs of the company. If both the Managing Director and the Chairman are jointly responsible for the company's daily operations, or if the cheque in question bears the signatures of both, then both can be held liable under Section 138.
However, if the Chairman neither signed the cheque nor had any role in the company’s financial management or issuance of the cheque, he cannot be made an accused under Section 138 NI Act merely by virtue of his designation.
In such a scenario, if there is independent evidence indicating that the Chairman induced the complainant to part with money or goods through fraudulent representations, a case for cheating under Section 318 of the BNS may be made out. For initiating proceedings for the offence of cheating, it is not necessary to file a separate complaint. You may array the Chairman as an accused in the same complaint, but only in respect of the offence of cheating, provided the facts support such an allegation.
Accordingly, you are advised to file a single complaint against both persons—against the Managing Director for the offence of dishonour of cheque under Section 138 NI Act as well as cheating, and against the Chairman for the offence of cheating, if the facts and evidence support such a charge.
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by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Jun 27, 2025 | Criminal Matter
Magistrate issued a summon without giving appropriate reason thereof. I have received a summon from the court for the offence of section 323/504/506 IPC. No reason and finding of the court has been mentioned in that summons. In this condition I can say that the court has issued a process without application of mind. My friend says that I can challenge the process before the high court. I contacted an advocate of the High Court and he advised that the issue of process cannot be challenged on the ground of not stating reason. Please suggest.
Asked from: Uttar Pradesh
It is well settled that it is not mandatory for the Magistrate to pass a detailed reasoned order under Section 204 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, at the stage of issuing process. This principle has been clearly laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Kanti Bhadra Shah v. State of West Bengal, (2000) 1 SCC 722.
At the stage of issuance of process, the Magistrate is not required to record reasons or make detailed findings. If the Magistrate is satisfied that there exists sufficient ground to proceed against the accused, he may issue process, whether in the form of a summons or a warrant.
Once the complainant succeeds in establishing that a prima facie case exists against the accused, the court may take cognizance of the offence and issue process accordingly. At this stage, the court is expected to consider:
- The form and contents of the complaint,
- The statements of the complainant and witnesses, and
- The evidence adduced in support of the allegations.
If these materials, taken as a whole, prima facie disclose the commission of an offence, the Magistrate is bound to issue process and summon the accused to face trial.
However, the issue of process may be challenged on certain limited grounds, such as:
- That no offence is made out on the basis of the evidence adduced,
- That no prima facie case exists against the accused, or
- That the Magistrate has issued process without proper application of mind or without considering the materials on record.
Importantly, the summoning order cannot be challenged merely on the ground that the Magistrate has not recorded reasons, or that the order lacks detailed findings regarding cognizance. The law does not mandate the Magistrate to elaborate on these aspects at the stage of process issuance under Section 204 CrPC. Magistrate issued a summon without giving appropriate reason is in consonance of the provision of crpc.
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by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Jun 27, 2025 | Criminal Matter
Can I lodge a complaint against a person to whom an FIR was lodged for another offence in 2021. I lodged a first information report against a person who was my employee. He was deputed to clear all goods imported from the United States of America. My company is doing business in electronic goods assembled in the USA. That employee was indulged in false trade and mixed huge goods made in China. When that employee came to the company's knowledge immediately an FIR was lodged against him. That case is pending. Recently I came to know that he had manipulated the balance sheets of the company and made several false entries. He had manipulated the funds of the company and utilized it to establish his own company in China. I wanted to lodge a fresh complaint against him but my advocate says that there should not be more than one FIR in the same offence or the offence committed in the same transaction.
Asked from: Tamil Nadu
The employee in question has committed the offence of dishonest misappropriation of property during the period of his employment under you. You have already initiated a criminal case for the offence of cheating, which is a separate and distinct offence and bears no direct connection with the offence of misappropriation, except for the fact that both were committed while he was in your service.
In light of this, you are legally entitled to lodge a fresh complaint in respect of the offence of dishonest misappropriation of property. It is a settled legal principle that when a person commits multiple offences in the course of the same transaction or within a period of one year, he may be charged with and tried for all such offences jointly, provided those offences have been alleged in the same complaint or FIR.
However, this principle does not apply when the offences were not known or disclosed at the time of the original complaint. In your case, the offence of misappropriation came to your knowledge only recently, approximately four years after the earlier FIR was lodged. Since the two offences are distinct in nature and not part of the same complaint, you are well within your rights to initiate a separate criminal proceeding.
While filing the new complaint, it is essential that you explain the delay in lodging it. You should specifically mention in your complaint that you became aware of the said offence only recently, and provide any relevant circumstances or documentation that supports this assertion.
This explanation will help satisfy the court that the delay was reasonable and justified, and that you acted promptly upon discovering the offence. Therefore, you can lodge a complaint against a person to whom an FIR was lodged for another offence.
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by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Jun 24, 2025 | Criminal Matter
Complainant sought separate trial after stay order passed by the high court against two co-accused. The complainant is frustrated by the order of the honourable high court which has stayed the proceedings against the co-accused because of bald and omnibus allegation made against them. Now the case has been stayed and no proceedings are going on. An application has moved by the counsel of complainant.
She prayed to separate the file of two co-accused and carry on trial against the husband. No charge has been framed by the magistrate in the matter. Now the application has been moved with the intention to delay the process and pressurise the accused.
I want to know whether the trial court can separate the file and frame charges against me. My parents case has been stayed by the interim order of the high court. If charges have framed by the magistrate then what is the possibility of trial and what would be the chance of the parents to face the trial?
Asked from: Madhya Pradesh
The Hon’ble High Court has stayed the proceedings against the two co-accused until the next date of hearing. The said order is interim in nature and does not constitute a final adjudication of the matter. The opposite party retains the right to appear before the High Court to object to the interim stay or to file an application for vacation of the stay order.
In these circumstances, it cannot be contended that the interim order of the High Court has resulted in a miscarriage of justice. The complainant bears the burden of establishing before the Magistrate that such an order has caused prejudice or a miscarriage of justice due to the inability to separate the case file or initiate a separate trial.
As per Section 223 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, when there is more than one accused charged with committing the same offence in the course of the same transaction, they shall ordinarily be charged and tried jointly, unless such a joint trial is likely to cause a miscarriage of justice. Therefore, unless the complainant can establish that a joint trial would be unjust, separate trials or separation of case files is not permissible.
The interim order of the High Court is temporary and does not, by itself, lead to any judicial delay or procedural irregularity. Hence, there is no legal basis for the separation of the file or for conducting a separate trial against one of the accused at this stage. Complainant has no legal ground to sought separate trial after stay order passed by the high court.
Related: Victim has the right to oppose bail application of accused
by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Jun 22, 2025 | Property Dispute
How to transfer my spinning factory to another person for ten years. He is willing to operate my factory because I want to settle abroad. The factory is situated on my land and it is debt free. I have installed all necessary equipment for making synthetic yarn. A few of them have been imported from Italy. He is willing to pay pagdi in advance and also to a fixed amount each year. I want to keep ownership of my land and transfer only machinery and equipment to him. In this situation what would be the best mode to transfer.
Asked from: Uttar Pradesh
You should execute the transfer through a registered lease agreement, duly attested by two witnesses. The factory in question constitutes immovable property, as its equipment and machinery are permanently affixed to the land. This permanent installation reflects the clear intention of the owner to enjoy the land more beneficially on a long-term basis.
In accordance with the Transfer of Property Act, when the value of the property exceeds one hundred rupees, or the lease is for a term exceeding one year or involves rent exceeding one year’s value, the lease must be executed by a registered instrument.
The transfer of the right to operate the spinning factory located on the land constitutes the transfer of an interest in immovable property, as it amounts to yielding benefits from that immovable property. Therefore, any oral agreement or a notarised deed executed on a ₹100 stamp paper will not create any valid or enforceable right in favour of the transferee.
To ensure legal validity, the lease agreement must be:
- Executed as a registered deed,
- Properly stamped in accordance with the applicable Stamp Act, and
- Attested by at least two witnesses.
Failing to follow this process will render the transfer legally ineffective and may expose you to unnecessary disputes in the future. The said mode should be adopted to transfer the spinning factory to another person.
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by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Jun 20, 2025 | Civil Matter
My friend is not returning my equipment and other goods which I was handed over to him in 2020. I had been running a small factory on my land due to the advent of COVID pandemic. I was not not able to run that factory. Therefore, I handed over the equipment and other goods to my friend along with the land on rent for the period of five years. Now the tenure of lease has completed and I am asking him to handover my equipment etc. But he is saying that it was not part of the lease and due to several defects I have removed them from the site. He is telling lies and using those equipment on another site. I have the evidence to prove that he is still utilising my equipment and goods for his own business. Please help.
Asked from: Uttar Pradesh
Your friend was the lessee, and the premises were let out to him along with the equipment and goods that were installed and affixed to the land. At the time of letting, all items attached to the earth were transferred along with the premises, and the lessee had been deriving benefits from those fixtures.
In this context, such items constitute fixtures embedded in the earth, intended to enhance the beneficial use of the land. Therefore, they qualify as immovable property under law. The lessee has no legal right to detach or remove these immovable fixtures from the land without your express written consent.
If these fixtures and equipment have been removed by the lessee without your permission, he has committed a legal wrong and is liable to compensate you for the loss incurred due to such unauthorized removal. It is an undisputed fact that you are the rightful owner of those fixtures, and ownership does not transfer to the lessee merely by virtue of possession or use.
In light of the above, you are advised to issue a legal notice to the lessee, demanding either the return of the removed items or monetary compensation equivalent to the loss suffered due to their removal. Should he fail or refuse to comply with your demands, you may proceed to file a civil suit for recovery of goods, compensation and damages.
You have a valid legal claim, and prompt action is necessary to protect your rights and recover your losses. Your friend is not returning equipment and other goods with a view that those were not subject matter of lease, whereas all those things were integral part of land.
Also read:
by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Jun 20, 2025 | Property Dispute
Landlord refused to compensate the tenant for making improvements in leased property to get more income from the land. I have taken a premises on rent and built several permanent structure with the permission of the landlord. Now the premises is used for organising commercial activity. For that purpose I used to book small fairs, conferences, seasonal markets etc for seven to fifteen days. Several rest rooms, toilets, conference hall, air conditioned hall were constructed by me on my own expenses. The said premises had been on rent for more than ten years. Now the landlord refused to extend the lease and also refused to pay compensation for the improvements and permanent structure made by me on the land.
Asked from: Uttar Pradesh
You had carried out permanent construction on the premises after obtaining due permission from the landlord. These constructions have enhanced both the value and utility of the land. Consequently, the premises now have the potential to generate significantly more benefit compared to their earlier barren condition.
As per established legal principles, if a tenant makes improvements or permanent constructions at their own expense and such improvements are subsequently transferred to the landlord along with possession of the land, the landlord is under a legal obligation to compensate the tenant for the cost of such constructions. If the landlord chooses not to derive benefit from those structures, he may opt to demolish them. However, in your case, the structures have not been demolished and the landlord continues to enjoy the benefits arising therefrom.
Under these circumstances, you are legally entitled to claim compensation for the improvements made. It is advisable to serve a legal notice upon the landlord, formally demanding compensation for the constructions you have undertaken on his land. Should the landlord fail or refuse to comply with your demand, you may initiate a civil suit for recovery of the cost of the improvements.
You have a valid and enforceable right to claim the expenses incurred for enhancing the property, and legal recourse is available to you for enforcement of that right. Landlord has illegally refused to compensate the tenant for making improvements in leased property.
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by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Jun 17, 2025 | Family Dispute
क्या भरण-पोषण के मामले में पत्नी की आय प्रदर्शित करना आवश्यक है? यदि पत्नी की कुछ आय हो और वह अपना आय प्रदर्शित नहीं करना चाहती है तो क्या न्यायालय उसे मजबूर कर सकता है कि वह अपना आय का प्रमाण पत्र प्रस्तुत करे? जब मैंने भरण-पोषण के लिए मुकद्दमा किया था उस समय मेरे पास आय का कोइ जरिया नहीं था। लेकिन मुकद्दमें के लंम्बित रहने के दौरान मैंने एक कम्पनी में पार्ट टाईम जाॅब करना शुरु किया। मुझे बारह हजार रुपया महीना मिलता है लेकिन उक्त धन मेरे बैंक अकाउंट में नहीं आता बल्कि मुझे कैश में मिलता है। इसी शर्त पर मैंने वह नौकरी ज्वाइन किया था। मेरे पति के पास कोइ सबूत नहीं है कि मैं नौकरी करती हूँ। लेकिन फिर भी उन्होने माननीय न्यायालय से मांग किया है कि मैं अपनी आय का प्रमाण न्यायालय के समक्ष प्रस्तुत करू। क्या इस परिस्थिति में मुझे अपनी आय का प्रमाण पत्र देना होगा?
प्रश्न पूछा गया: बिहार से
यदि आपके पास आय का स्वतंत्र जरिया है तो उसे न्यायालय के समक्ष प्रस्तुत करना चाहिए। सर्वोच्च न्यायालय ने रजनीश बनाम नेहा के वाद में कुछ दिशा निर्देश जारी किया है, जिसके अनुसार भरण-पोषण के प्रत्येक वाद में मुकद्दमें के दोनों पक्षकारों को अपनी-अपनी आय-व्यय, दायित्व, ऋण और चल-अचल सम्पत्ति का पूर्ण विवरण एक शपथ पत्र के द्वारा न्यायालय के समक्ष प्रस्तुत करना अनिवार्य है। उक्त शपथ पत्र में सभी विवरण सत्य होना चाहिए, असत्य विचरण देने पर शपथकर्ता पर भारतीय न्याय संहिता की धारा 215 के तहत शपत पर झूठा कथन करने के अपराध का मुकद्दमा चलाया जा सकेगा।
अतः आपको अपने आय के सम्बंध मे झूठा कथन नहीं करना चाहिए। भले ही अभी आपके पति को आपके आय की कोई जानकारी नहीं है, लेकिन भरण-पोषण के वाद के निर्णीत होने के बाद यदि उन्हे इस तथ्य की जानकारी हो जाती है आपने अपनी आय छिपाया था और झूठा शपथ पत्र दिया था, तो वह आपके विरुद्ध झूठा शपथ पत्र प्रस्तुत करने के संम्बंध में आपके विरुद्ध मुकद्दमा चलाने हेतु माननीय न्यायालय को भारतीय नागरिक सुरक्षा संहिता की धारा 379 के तहत आवेदन प्रस्तुत कर सकते हैं। उस स्थिति में न्यायालय आपके विरुद्ध मुकद्दमा भी चला सकता है और पूर्व में दिये गये भरण-पोषण के अपने आदेश को निरस्त भी कर सकता है।
न्यायालय द्वारा भरण-पोषण का निर्धारण पति के आर्थिक स्थिति और उसके सामाजिक प्रास्थिति के आधार पर निश्चित किया जाता है। यदि पत्नी अस्थाई तौर पर कुछ आय कर रही है तो उसके आधार पर न्यायालय भरण-पोषण की राशि कुछ कम कर सकता है लेकिन भरण-पोषण का आदेश देने से इंकार नहीं कर सकता है। अतः आपको अपनी आय छिपाना नहीं चाहिए बल्कि अपने पति के स्टेटस के अनुसार भरण-पोषण का मांग करना चाहिए।
संबंधित:
by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Jun 15, 2025 | Family Dispute
क्या सर्वोच्च न्यायालय में 13 बी सहमति द्वारा विवाह विच्छेद याचिका दायर किया जा सकता है, जहाँ पहले से पक्षकारों के बीच अंतरण याचिका लंबित है। मैंने सन् 2021 में धारा 13 हिन्दू विवाह अधिनियम के तहत क्रूरता के आधार पर तलाक का वाद दाखिल किया था। जिसके बाद मेरी पत्नी ने उसे अपने जिला न्यायालय में अंतरण कराने के लिए सर्वोच्च न्यायालय में एक अंतरण याचिका दाखिल कर दिया। जिसमें माननीय न्यायालय ने मेरे वाद को स्टे आर्डर द्वारा रोक लगा दिया। तब से दोनों ही मामले लंबित हैं। इसी बीच हम लोगों ने आपसी सहमति से अपना विवाह विच्छेद करने का निश्चय कर लिया। अब समस्या है कि वाद कहाँ दाखिल किया जाए? मैंने अपनी पत्नी को पाँच लाख रूपया भी दे दिया है। अब क्या किया जाए मार्गदर्शन करें।
पूछा गया: हरियाणा से
उपरोक्त परिस्थिति में आपके पास दो विकल्प है। पहला, कि आप पारिवारिक न्यायालय से विवाह विच्छेद का वाद वापस ले और माननीय सर्वोच्च न्यायालय से अंतरण याचिका को भी खारिज करा लेंवे। इसमें संभावना है कि सर्वोच्च न्यायालय द्वारा मामला मीडिएशन के लिए भेज दिया जाये। जहाँ आप धारा 13 बी के तहत विवाह विच्छेद का विकल्प चुन लेवें।
दूसरा विकल्प है कि सर्वोच्च न्यायालय में अगली तारीख पेशी पर आप दोनों पक्षकार मिल कर समुचित प्रारूप में हिंदू विवाह अधिनियम के धारा 13 बी के तहत विवाह विच्छेद का आवेदन कर दें और अंतरण याचिका में अपना अनुरोष संशोधित कर लें।
दोनों ही विकल्पों में आपको माननीय सर्वोच्च न्यायालय से समुचित अनुतोष प्राप्त होगा। न्यायालय विवाह विच्छेद की प्रक्रिया को प्रारंभ कर देगा, यदि माननीय न्यायालय को प्रतीत होता है कि विवाह अंतिम रूप से टूट गया है और पक्षकार का एक साथ रहना संभव नहीं है। अर्थात जब न्यायालय संतुष्ट हो जायेगा कि धारा 13 बी कि सभी शर्तें पूरी होती हैं तो आपका विवाह विच्छेदित कर दिया जायेगा।
संबंधित: पत्नी ने साथ रहने से इंकार कर दिया है लेकिन विवाह विच्छेद भी नहीं करना चाहती
by Shivendra Pratap Singh | Jun 15, 2025 | Family Dispute
पत्नी ने साथ रहने से इंकार कर दिया है लेकिन विवाह विच्छेद भी नहीं करना चाहती है। मेरे विवाह के लगभग 18 वर्ष हो गये हैं और इन 18 वर्षों में हम लोग कभी भी सुख पूर्वक नहीं रह पाये हैं। मेरी पत्नी बहुत झगड़ालू प्रवृत्ति की है। वह हर समय अपने मायके मे रहना पसंद करती है और अपने मायके वालों का पक्ष लेती रहती है। वह हर समय मुझे नीचा दिखाती है जिसके कारण मुझे बहुत शर्मिंदगी महसूस होती है। मेरे 3 बच्चे हैं लेकिन वे सब अपनी माँ के पक्ष में ही रहते हैं। मैंने बहुत प्रयास किया कि सभी को समझा कर अपने साथ रखे लेकिन वे सभी मुझसे दूर ही रहना चाहते हैं। काफी प्रयासों के बाद भी मेरी पत्नी मेरे साथ नहीं रहना चाहती है। इस परिस्थिति में क्या करना चाहिए? मैं भी अब अलग रहना चाहता हूँ। म्यूच्यूअल डाइवोर्स के बारे में सुझाव दें।
पूछा गया: उत्तर प्रदेश से
आपके विवाह के 18 वर्ष हो गये हैं और आपके वैवाहिक संम्बंध कभी भी मधुर नहीं रहे जिसके कारण विवाह लगभग समाप्त सा हो गया है। आपकी पत्नी ने साथ रहने से इंकार कर दिया है लेकिन विवाह विच्छेद भी नहीं करना चाहती है, तो ऐसी परिस्थिति में आपसी सहमति द्वारा विवाह विच्छेद काफी कठिन प्रतीत हो रहा है। फिर भी आपको अपनी पत्नी से वार्ता करना चाहिए, ताकि आपसी सहमति द्वारा विवाह विच्छेद कर सकें।
सहमति द्वारा विवाह विच्छेद, हिन्दू विवाह अधिनियम 1955 के धारा 13 बी के अन्तर्गत प्रदान किया गया है। इसके अधीन विवाह विच्छेद का वाद दाखिल करने के लिए निम्नलिखित तथ्यों को साबित करना अनिवार्य है:
- विवाह के पक्षकार 1 वर्ष से अधिक समय से पृथक रह रहें हों, और
- उनका एक साथ रहना संभव नहीं है, और
- वे आपस मे सहमत हो गये हैं कि उनका विवाह समाप्त कर दिया जाना चाहिए
उपरोक्त तथ्यों के साबित होने पर न्यायालय द्वारा पक्षकारों का विवाह विच्छेदित कर दिया जायेगा। धारा 13 बी के तहत किसी भी पक्षकार को दोष साबित नहीं करना होता इसलिये विवाह विच्छेद सरल और त्वरित हो जाता है।
आपकी पत्नी बार-बार आपको छोड़कर अपने मायके चली जाती है। यह कृत्य स्वत: साबित करता है कि वह अपने वैवाहिक दायित्वों का पालन नहीं कर रही है। आपकी पत्नी का उक्त कृत्य अभित्यजन और क्रूरता की श्रेणी में आता है। आपकी पत्नी पृथक निवास करना चाहती है लेकिन विवाह समाप्त नहीं करना चाहती, अत: बहुत क्षीण संभावना है कि वह आपसी सहमति से विवाह विच्छेद करने को राजी होगी।
ऐसी परिस्थिति में आप हिन्दू विवाह अधिनियम 1955 के धारा 13 के अंतर्गत अभित्यजन और क्रूरता के आधार पर विवाह विच्छेद का वाद दाखिल कर सकते हैं। आपके मामले में धारा 13 के तहत विवाह विच्छेद हो सकता है। यदि आपके द्वारा पत्नी की क्रूरता या अभित्यजन या दोनों साबित कर दिया जाता है तो विवाह विच्छेद निश्चित है इसमें पत्नी का सहमति मायने नहीं रखता है।
संबंधित: Wife challenged mutual consent divorce decree in domestic violence case
