In this regard, he placed
reliance on judgment passed by the Karnataka High Court in Bhagava v. Sri
Kadasiddeshwara Trading Company and others reported in ILR 2004
Karnataka 367 in that case the court held that The person who claims as
legal hair of the payee cannot be termed as holder in due course in the
strict sense, but in the opinion of this court, on the death of the payee, his
legal heir steps into the shoes of the payee for all practical purposes and
such a person can also file and prosecute the complaint after completing
the legal formalities. It is all necessary to mention that it would be
incumbent upon the complainant to prove that the complainant is the legal
representative of the deceased payee, in the event of accused disputing the
same.
21. Another case cited by Advocate Shri
Deshpande for respondent is of Single Bench of Kerala
High Court Smt. Bhagava vs. M.s Sri Kadasiddeshwara
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Trading Company and another 2004 (1) Crimes 701. In
the said case, payee had died before presenting cheque
for encashment and the cheque was therefore presented
by his wife and on bouncing of the cheque, after
completing formalities, she had filed complaint. In
the facts of the said case, it is held therein that on
death of payee, his legal heirs stepped into shoe of
payee for all practical purposes and such legal heir
could also file and prosecute complaint and the
impugned order dismissing the complaint was set aside.
5.6 When the Karnataka High Court in Smt.Bagva
(supra) takes a view that an undisputed heir of the
payee steps into the shoe of the payee to be competent
to become a complainant under Section 138 of the Act,
this Court is in respectful disagreement with such
proposition. It ignores the provisions of Section 9
read with Section 142 of the Act, and in other words
disregards the position evident therefrom that only a
person having a capacity of holder in due course in
eye of law is competent to maintain a complaint. The
cognizance of complaint filed by the payee or holder
in due course only is permissible in law.
7. Reliance has further been placed on a Single Bench judgment of
Karnataka High court in the case of Smt.Bhagava Vs. Sri
Kadasiddeshwara Trading, reported in ILR 2004 KAR 367,
wherein it has been held as under :-