Kerala High Court
Lenin Jose vs Joby P.A on 26 November, 2010
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.HARILAL
FRIDAY, THE 22ND DAY OF NOVEMBER 2013/1ST AGRAHAYANA,
1935
Crl.Rev.Pet.No. 2228 of 2013 ()
--------------------------------
AGAINST THE JUDGMENT IN CRL.A. 484/2008 of THE I ADDL.
SESSIONS COURT, THRISSUR DATED 26-11-2010
AGAINST THE JUDGMENT IN CC 539/2004 of J.M.F.C.-I,
THRISSUR.
REVISION PETITIONER/ACCUSED/APPELLANT:
--------------------------------------
LENIN JOSE, AGED 38 YEARS,
S/O.JOSE, THATTIL HOUSE, P O PULLAZY,
OLARIKKARA, THRISSUR
BY ADV. SRI.ESM.KABEER
RESPONDENTS/COMPLAINANT(S)/RESPONDENT/STATE:
---------------------------------------------
1. JOBY P.A.,
S/O.ANTONY, PULIKKAN HOUSE, PONGANAMKKAD P O,
KURICHIKARA, THRISSUR.
2. STATE OF KERALA,
REP BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,
HIGH COURT OF KERALA,
ERNAKULAM.
R2 BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SMT. SEENA RAMAKRISHNAN
THIS CRIMINAL REVISION PETITION HAVING COME UP
FOR ADMISSION ON 22-11-2013, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY
PASSED THE FOLLOWING:
K. HARILAL, J.
------------------------------------------------------
Crl.R.P. No. 2228 of 2013
------------------------------------------------------
Dated this the 22nd day of November, 2013
ORDER
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.484/08 on the files of the I Additional Sessions Judge, Thrissur. The above appeal was filed challenging the judgment finding that the Revision Petitioner is guilty of the said offence, passed in C.C.No.539/04 on the files of the Judicial First Class Magistrate's Court-I, Thrissur. According to the impugned judgment, the Revision Petitioner is sentenced to undergo imprisonment till rising Crl.R.P. No. 2228 of 2013 -: 2 :- of the court. He is directed to pay a compensation of Rs.65,000/- to the 1st respondent/complainant under Sec.357(3) of the Cr.P.C. and in default of payment of compensation, the accused shall undergo simple imprisonment for a period of one month.
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. The courts below had concurrently found that the complainant/1st respondent had successfully discharged initial burden of proving execution and issuance of the cheque; whereas the Revision Petitioner had failed to rebut the presumption under 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 Crl.R.P. No. 2228 of 2013 -: 3 :- legally enforceable debt and Ext.P1 cheque was duly executed and issued in discharge of the said debt. I do not find any kind of illegality or impropriety in the said findings or perversity in appreciation of evidence, from which the above findings had been arrived. Therefore, I am not inclined to re-appreciate entire evidence once again and I confirm the concurrent findings of conviction.
3. The counsel for the Revision Petitioner submits that challenge under this Revision is confined to sentence only. The sentence imposed on the Revision Petitioner is disproportionate with the gravity and nature of the offence. He further submits that the Revision Petitioner is willing to pay the compensation as ordered by the court below; but he is unable to raise the said amount forthwith due to paucity of funds. But he is ready to pay the compensation within five months.
4. 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 Crl.R.P. No. 2228 of 2013 -: 4 :- overtone, and imposition of fine payable as compensation is sufficient to meet the ends of justice. Further, in Vijayan vs. 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.
5. 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 compensation within five months, I am inclined to grant five months time to pay the compensation. Consequently, this Revision Petition is liable to be disposed of subject to the following terms.
i. The Revision Petitioner shall undergo simple imprisonment for one day till rising of the court.
ii. The Revision Petitioner shall pay a compensation of Rs.65,000/- (Rupees sixty five thousand only) within a period of five months from today to the 1st Crl.R.P. No. 2228 of 2013 -: 5 :- respondent/complainant under Sec.357(3) of the Cr.P.C.
iii. The Revision Petitioner shall appear before the Trial Court to suffer substantive sentence of simple imprisonment as ordered above on or before 22/4/2014 with sufficient proof to show payment of compensation .
iv. In default, the Revision Petitioner shall undergo simple imprisonment for a period of one month.
The Criminal Revision Petition is disposed of accordingly.
Sd/-
(K. HARILAL, JUDGE) Nan/ //true copy// P.S. to Judge