( 2025:HHC:16872 ) IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr. Revision No. 310 of 2023 Reserved on: 01.05.2025 Date of Decision: 30 .05.2025. Sanjay Rajta ...Petitioner Versus Durga Singh ...Respondent Coram Hon’ble Mr Justice Rakesh Kainthla, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 No. For the Petitioner : Mr. Rajeev Sharma, Advocate. For the Respondent : Mr. Y.P. Sood, Advocate. Rakesh Kainthla, Judge The present revision is directed against the order dated 17.03.2023, passed by learned Sessions Judge (Forests), Shimla, Himachal Pradesh Camp at Rohru (learned Appellate Court), vide which the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 30.08.2022, passed by learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Court No. 1, Rohru, District Shimla (learned Trial Court) were upheld. (The parties shall hereinafter be referred 1 Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes. 2( 2025:HHC:16872 ) to in the same manner in which they were arrayed before the learned Trial Court for convenience.) 2. Briefly stated, the facts giving rise to the present revision are that the complainant filed a complaint before the learned Trial Court for the commission of an offence punishable under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act (“in short NI Act”) read with Section 141 of the NI Act. It was asserted that the complainant is a horticulturist. He sends his apple produce for sale to various markets on a commission basis. M/s. Skyline Fruit Marketing is owned by Sanjay Rajta and Ajay Shyam. The complainant sent consignments of best-quality apple cases for sale to the Firm. The accused sold the apple at throwaway prices. The accused was liable to pay an amount of ₹2,61,994/- to the complainant. The accused issued a cheque in favour of the complainant drawn at UCO Bank, Dhalli. The complainant presented the cheque before his Bank, but it was dishonoured due to insufficiency of funds on 09.12.2013. The complainant contacted the accused and apprised him about the dishonour of the cheque. The accused issued another cheque in favour of the complainant on 20.03.2014. This cheque was dishonoured with the endorsement “insufficient funds”. The accused issued 3( 2025:HHC:16872 ) another cheque on 20.07.2014, but it was also dishonoured on 30.09.2014 with the endorsement “insufficient funds”. The complainant issued a legal notice asking the accused to pay the money within 15 days from the date of receipt of the notice. The notice was duly served upon the accused, but the accused failed to pay the amount. Hence, the complaint was filed before the Court against the accused. 3. The learned Trial Court found sufficient reasons to summon the accused. When they appeared, the learned Trial Court put the Notice of accusation to them for the commission of an offence punishable under Section 138 of the NI Act, to which they pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried. 4. The complainant examined himself (CW1) to prove his case. 5. The accused in their statements recorded under Section 313 of the Cr.PC admitted that the complainant has an apple orchard, and they were running a business in the name of M/s Sky Line & Enterprise. The accused, Sanjay Rajta, admitted that the cheque was issued in favour of the complainant. He stated that the cheque was issued on the account of the Firm in 4( 2025:HHC:16872 ) which he was a partner. He admitted that the cheque was dishonoured. He denied that the notice was served upon him. He stated that he was ready to pay his share. 6. The accused, Ajay Shyam, admitted the issuance and dishonour of the cheque. He stated that the witnesses deposed against him falsely. Subsequently, accused Ajay Shyam did not appear before the Court, and he was declared a proclaimed offender. He was apprehended, and he paid some money to the complainant. However, he did not appear again. 7. Learned Trial Court held that the accused did not dispute the sale of the apple crop and the issuance of the cheque. The cheque was dishonoured with an endorsement of insufficient funds. The accused did not pay the amount despite the receipt of a valid notice of demand. Hence, the learned Trial Court convicted the accused for the commission of an offence punishable under Section 138 of the NI Act and sentenced him to undergo simple imprisonment for two years, pay a fine of ₹2,60,000/- and in default of payment of fine to undergo further simple imprisonment for one year. 5( 2025:HHC:16872 ) 8. Being aggrieved from the judgment and order passed by the learned Trial Court, the accused filed an appeal, which was decided by the learned Sessions Judge (Forests), Shimla. Learned Appellate Court concurred with the finding recorded by the learned Trial Court that the cheque was dishonoured on the ground of insufficiency of funds, the accused had failed to rebut the presumption regarding the consideration, and the accused failed to pay the amount despite the receipt of a valid notice of demand. Hence, the appeal was dismissed. 9. Being aggrieved from the judgment and order passed by the learned Courts below, the accused has filed the present petition asserting that the learned Courts below erred in appreciating the evidence. The accused had duly rebutted the presumption contained in Sections 118 and 139 of the N.I. Act. The evidence was not appreciated holistically. The complainant failed to prove his case beyond a reasonable doubt. There is no pre-existing duty or liability. Therefore, it was prayed that the present petition be allowed and the judgments and order passed by the learned Courts below be set aside. 6( 2025:HHC:16872 ) 10. I have heard Mr. Rajeev Sharma, learned counsel, for the petitioner and Mr. Y.P. Sood, learned counsel, for the respondent. 11. Mr. Rajeev Sharma, learned counsel, for the petitioner, submitted that the petitioner is innocent and he was falsely implicated. Learned Courts below erred in appreciating the evidence. The complainant failed to prove that the cheque was issued to discharge his legal liability. The notice was not served upon the accused, and the learned Trial Court erred in convicting and sentencing the accused. The sentence of two years imposed by the learned Trial Court is excessive and no reason was assigned for imposing the maximum sentence. Therefore, he prayed that the present petition be allowed and the judgments and order passed by learned Courts below be set aside. 12. Mr. Y.P. Sood, learned counsel, for the respondent, supported the judgments and order passed by the learned Courts below. He submitted that the accused never disputed his liability to pay the amount in his statement recorded under Section 313 of the Cr.PC. Learned Trial Court had rightly convicted and 7( 2025:HHC:16872 ) sentenced the accused. The appeal preferred by the accused had no substance, and it was rightly dismissed by the learned Appellate Court. There is no perversity in the judgments and order passed by the learned Courts below, and this Court should not interfere with the concurrent findings of facts recorded by the learned Courts below. Therefore, he prayed that the present petition be dismissed. 13. I have given considerable thought to the submissions made at the bar and have gone through the records carefully. 14. It was laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Malkeet Singh Gill v. State of Chhattisgarh, (2022) 8 SCC 204: (2022) 3 SCC (Cri) 348: 2022 SCC OnLine SC 786 that the revisional court is not an appellate court and it can only rectify the patent defect, errors of jurisdiction or the law. It was observed on page 207: - “10. Before adverting to the merits of the contentions, at the outset, it is apt to mention that there are concurrent findings of conviction arrived at by two courts after a detailed appreciation of the material and evidence brought on record. The High Court in criminal revision against conviction is not supposed to exercise the jurisdiction like the appellate court, and the scope of interference in revision is extremely narrow. Section 397 of the Criminal Procedure Code (in short “CrPC”) vests 8( 2025:HHC:16872 ) jurisdiction to satisfy itself or himself as to the correctness, legality or propriety of any finding, sentence or order, recorded or passed, and as to the regularity of any proceedings of such inferior court. The object of the provision is to set right a patent defect or an error of jurisdiction or law. There has to be a well-founded error which is to be determined on the merits of individual cases. It is also well settled that while considering the same, the Revisional Court does not dwell at length upon the facts and evidence of the case to reverse those findings. 15. This position was reiterated in State of Gujarat v. Dilipsinh Kishorsinh Rao, 2023 SCC OnLine SC 1294, wherein it was observed: “13. The power and jurisdiction of the Higher Court under Section 397 Cr. P.C., which vests the court with the power to call for and examine records of an inferior court, is for the purposes of satisfying itself as to the legality and regularity of any proceeding or order made in a case. The object of this provision is to set right a patent defect or an error of jurisdiction or law or the perversity which has crept into such proceedings. It would be apposite to refer to the judgment of this court in Amit Kapoor v. Ramesh Chandra, (2012) 9 SCC 460, where the scope of Section 397 has been considered and succinctly explained as under: “12. Section 397 of the Code vests the court with the power to call for and examine the records of an inferior court for the purposes of satisfying itself as to the legality and regularity of any proceedings or order made in a case. The object of this provision is to set right a patent defect or an error of jurisdiction or law. There has to be a well-founded error, and it may not be appropriate for the court to scrutinise the orders, which, upon the face of it, bear a token of careful consideration and appear to be in 9( 2025:HHC:16872 ) accordance with the law. If one looks into the various judgments of this Court, it emerges that the revisional jurisdiction can be invoked where the decisions under challenge are grossly erroneous, there is no compliance with the provisions of law, the finding recorded is based on no evidence, material evidence is ignored or judicial discretion is exercised arbitrarily or perversely. These are not exhaustive classes but are merely indicative. Each case would have to be determined on its own merits. 13. Another well-accepted norm is that the revisional jurisdiction of the higher court is a very limited one and cannot be exercised in a routine manner. One of the inbuilt restrictions is that it should not be against an interim or interlocutory order. The Court has to keep in mind that the exercise of revisional jurisdiction itself should not lead to injustice ex facie. Where the Court is dealing with the question as to whether the charge has been framed properly and in accordance with law in a given case, it may be reluctant to interfere in the exercise of its revisional jurisdiction unless the case substantially falls within the categories aforestated. Even framing of charge is a much-advanced stage in the proceedings under the CrPC.” 16. It was held in Kishan Rao v. Shankargouda, (2018) 8 SCC 165: (2018) 3 SCC (Cri) 544: (2018) 4 SCC (Civ) 37: 2018 SCC OnLine SC 651 that it is impermissible for the High Court to reappreciate the evidence and come to its conclusions in the absence of any perversity. It was observed on page 169: “12. This Court has time and again examined the scope of Sections 397/401 CrPC and the ground for exercising the revisional jurisdiction by the High Court. In State of Kerala v. Puttumana Illath Jathavedan Namboodiri [State of 10( 2025:HHC:16872 ) Kerala v. Puttumana Illath Jathavedan Namboodiri, (1999) 2 SCC 452: 1999 SCC (Cri) 275], while considering the scope of the revisional jurisdiction of the High Court, this Court has laid down the following: (SCC pp. 454-55, para 5) “5. … In its revisional jurisdiction, the High Court can call for and examine the record of any proceedings for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the correctness, legality or propriety of any finding, sentence or order. In other words, the jurisdiction is one of supervisory jurisdiction exercised by the High Court for correcting a miscarriage of justice. But the said revisional power cannot be equated with the power of an appellate court, nor can it be treated even as a second appellate jurisdiction. Ordinarily, therefore, it would not be appropriate for the High Court to reappreciate the evidence and come to its own conclusion on the same when the evidence has already been appreciated by the Magistrate as well as the Sessions Judge in appeal unless any glaring feature is brought to the notice of the High Court which would otherwise tantamount to a gross miscarriage of justice. On scrutinising the impugned judgment of the High Court from the aforesaid standpoint, we have no hesitation in coming to the conclusion that the High Court exceeded its jurisdiction in interfering with the conviction of the respondent by reappreciating the oral evidence. …” 13. Another judgment which has also been referred to and relied on by the High Court is the judgment of this Court in Sanjaysinh Ramrao Chavan v. Dattatray Gulabrao Phalke [Sanjaysinh Ramrao Chavan v. Dattatray Gulabrao Phalke, (2015) 3 SCC 123: (2015) 2 SCC (Cri) 19]. This Court held that the High Court, in the exercise of revisional jurisdiction, shall not interfere with the order of the Magistrate unless it is perverse or wholly unreasonable or there is non-consideration of any relevant material, the order cannot be set aside merely on the ground that another view is possible. The following has been laid down in para 14: (SCC p. 135) 11( 2025:HHC:16872 ) “14. … Unless the order passed by the Magistrate is perverse or the view taken by the court is wholly unreasonable or there is non-consideration of any relevant material or there is palpable misreading of records, the Revisional Court is not justified in setting aside the order, merely because another view is possible. The Revisional Court is not meant to act as an appellate court. The whole purpose of the revisional jurisdiction is to preserve the power in the court to do justice in accordance with the principles of criminal jurisprudence. The revisional power of the court under Sections 397 to 401 CrPC is not to be equated with that of an appeal. Unless the finding of the court, whose decision is sought to be revised, is shown to be perverse or untenable in law or is grossly erroneous or glaringly unreasonable or where the decision is based on no material or where the material facts are wholly ignored or where the judicial discretion is exercised arbitrarily or capriciously, the courts may not interfere with the decision in exercise of their revisional jurisdiction.” 14. In the above case, also conviction of the accused was recorded, and the High Court set aside [Dattatray Gulabrao Phalke v. Sanjaysinh Ramrao Chavan, 2013 SCC OnLine Bom 1753] the order of conviction by substituting its own view. This Court set aside the High Court's order holding that the High Court exceeded its jurisdiction in substituting its views, and that too without any legal basis. 17. This position was reiterated in Bir Singh v. Mukesh Kumar, (2019) 4 SCC 197: (2019) 2 SCC (Cri) 40: (2019) 2 SCC (Civ) 309: 2019 SCC OnLine SC 13, wherein it was observed at page 205: “16. It is well settled that in exercise of revisional jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the High Court does not, in the absence of perversity, upset concurrent factual findings. It is not for 12( 2025:HHC:16872 ) the Revisional Court to re-analyse and re-interpret the evidence on record. 17. As held by this Court in Southern Sales & Services v. Sauermilch Design and Handels GmbH [Southern Sales & Services v. Sauermilch Design and Handels GmbH, (2008) 14 SCC 457], it is a well-established principle of law that the Revisional Court will not interfere even if a wrong order is passed by a court having jurisdiction, in the absence of a jurisdictional error. The answer to the first question is therefore, in the negative.” 18. The present revision has to be decided as per the parameters laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. 19. The accused Sanjay Rajta admitted in his statement recorded under Section 313 of Cr.PC that the complainant had an apple orchard, and he (the accused) is running the business in the name of M/s. Skyline Fruit Marketing Enterprises. He admitted that the complainant had supplied the apple box worth ₹2,61,994/- and the cheque was issued by the Firm. He did not deny his liability to pay the amount, but he was ready to pay his share, therefore, it is apparent from the statement made under Section 313 of the Cr.PC that he has admitted the issuance of the cheque and the existence of the liability. 20. It was laid down by this Court in Naresh Verma vs. Narinder Chauhan 2020(1) Shim. L.C. 398 that where the accused had not disputed his signatures on the cheque, the Court has to 13( 2025:HHC:16872 ) presume that it was issued in discharge of legal liability and the burden would shift upon the accused to rebut the presumption. It was observed: - “8. Once signatures on the cheque are not disputed, the plea with regard to the cheque having not been issued towards discharge of lawful liability, rightly came to be rejected by learned Courts below. Reliance is placed upon Hiten P. Dalal v. Bartender Nath Bannerji, 2001 (6) SCC 16, wherein it has been held as under: "The words 'unless the contrary is proved' which occur in this provision make it clear that the presumption has to be rebutted by 'proof' and not by a bare explanation which is merely plausible. A fact is said to be proved when its existence is directly established or when, upon the material before it, the Court finds its existence to be so probable that a reasonable man would act on the supposition that it exists. Unless, therefore, the explanation is supported by proof, the presumption created by the provision cannot be said to be rebutted......" 9. S.139 of the Act provides that it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that the holder of a cheque received the cheque of nature referred to in section 138 for the discharge, in whole or in part, of any debt or other liability. 21. Similar is the judgment in Basalingappa vs. Mudibasappa 2019 (5) SCC 418 wherein it was held: “26. Applying the proposition of law as noted above, in the facts of the present case, it is clear that the signature on the cheque, having been admitted, a presumption shall be raised under Section 139 that the cheque was issued in discharge of debt or liability.” 14( 2025:HHC:16872 ) 22. This position was reiterated in Kalamani Tex v. P. Balasubramanian, (2021) 5 SCC 283: (2021) 3 SCC (Civ) 25: (2021) 2 SCC (Cri) 555: 2021 SCC OnLine SC 75 wherein it was held at page 289: “14. Once the 2nd appellant had admitted his signatures on the cheque and the deed, the trial court ought to have presumed that the cheque was issued as consideration for a legally enforceable debt. The trial court fell in error when it called upon the respondent complainant to explain the circumstances under which the appellants were liable to pay. Such an approach of the trial court was directly in the teeth of the established legal position as discussed above, and amounts to a patent error of law.” 23. Similar is the judgment in APS Forex Services (P) Ltd. v. Shakti International Fashion Linkers (2020) 12 SCC 724, wherein it was observed: - 7.2. What is emerging from the material on record is that the issuance of a cheque by the accused and the signature of the accused on the said cheque are not disputed by the accused. The accused has also not disputed that there were transactions between the parties. Even as per the statement of the accused, which was recorded at the time of the framing of the charge, he has admitted that some amount was due and payable. However, it was the case on behalf of the accused that the cheque was given by way of security, and the same has been misused by the complainant. However, nothing is on record that in the reply to the statutory notice, it was the case on behalf of the accused that the cheque was given by way of security. Be that as it may, however, it is required to be noted that earlier the accused issued cheques which came to be dishonoured on the ground of “insufficient funds” and 15( 2025:HHC:16872 ) thereafter a fresh consolidated cheque of ₹9,55,574 was given which has been returned unpaid on the ground of “STOP PAYMENT”. Therefore, the cheque in question was issued for the second time. Therefore, once the accused has admitted the issuance of a cheque which bears his signature, there is a presumption that there exists a legally enforceable debt or liability under Section 139 of the NI Act. However, such a presumption is rebuttable in nature, and the accused is required to lead evidence to rebut such presumption. The accused was required to lead evidence that the entire amount due and payable to the complainant was paid. 9. Coming back to the facts in the present case and considering the fact that the accused has admitted the issuance of the cheques and his signature on the cheque and that the cheque in question was issued for the second time after the earlier cheques were dishonoured and that even according to the accused some amount was due and payable, there is a presumption under Section 139 of the NI Act that there exists a legally enforceable debt or liability. Of course, such presumption is rebuttable in nature. However, to rebut the presumption, the accused was required to lead evidence that the full amount due and payable to the complainant had been paid. In the present case, no such evidence has been led by the accused. The story put forward by the accused that the cheques were given by way of security is not believable in the absence of further evidence to rebut the presumption, and more particularly, the cheque in question was issued for the second time after the earlier cheques were dishonoured. Therefore, both the courts below have materially erred in not properly appreciating and considering the presumption in favour of the complainant that there exists a legally enforceable debt or liability as per Section 139 of the NI Act. It appears that both the learned trial court as well as the High Court have committed an error in shifting the burden upon the complainant to prove the debt or liability, without 16( 2025:HHC:16872 ) appreciating the presumption under Section 139 of the NI Act. As observed above, Section 139 of the Act is an example of reverse onus clause and therefore, once the issuance of the cheque has been admitted and even the signature on the cheque has been admitted, there is always a presumption in favour of the complainant that there exists legally enforceable debt or liability and thereafter, it is for the accused to rebut such presumption by leading evidence. 24. The presumption under Section 139 of the NI Act was explained by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Triyambak S. Hegde v. Sripad, (2022) 1 SCC 742: (2022) 1 SCC (Civ) 512: 2021 SCC OnLine SC 788 as under at page 747: “12. From the facts arising in this case and the nature of the rival contentions, the record would disclose that the signature on the documents at Exts. P-6 and P-2 are not disputed. Ext. P-2 is the dishonoured cheque based on which the complaint was filed. From the evidence tendered before the JMFC, it is clear that the respondent has not disputed the signature on the cheque. If that be the position, as noted by the courts below, a presumption would arise under Section 139 in favour of the appellant who was the holder of the cheque. Section 139 of the NI Act reads as hereunder: “139. Presumption in favour of the holder. —It shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that the holder of a cheque received the cheque of the nature referred to in Section 138 for the discharge, in whole or in part, of any debt or other liability.” 13. Insofar as the payment of the amount by the appellant in the context of the cheque having been signed by the respondent, the presumption for passing of the consideration would arise as provided under Section 118(a) of the NI Act, which reads as hereunder: 17( 2025:HHC:16872 ) “118. Presumptions as to negotiable instruments. — Until the contrary is proved, the following presumptions shall be made: (a) of consideration: that every negotiable instrument was made or drawn for consideration, and that every such instrument, when it has been accepted, indorsed, negotiated or transferred, was accepted, indorsed, negotiated or transferred for consideration.” 14. The above-noted provisions are explicit to the effect that such presumption would remain until the contrary is proved. The learned counsel for the appellant in that regard has relied on the decision of this Court in K. Bhaskaran v. Sankaran Vaidhyan Balan [K. Bhaskaran v. Sankaran Vaidhyan Balan, (1999) 7 SCC 510: 1999 SCC (Cri) 1284] wherein it is held as hereunder: (SCC pp. 516-17, para 9) “9. As the signature in the cheque is admitted to be that of the accused, the presumption envisaged in Section 118 of the Act can legally be inferred that the cheque was made or drawn for consideration on the date which the cheque bears. Section 139 of the Act enjoins the Court to presume that the holder of the cheque received it for the discharge of any debt or liability. The burden was on the accused to rebut the aforesaid presumption. The trial court was not persuaded to rely on the interested testimony of DW 1 to rebut the presumption. The said finding was upheld [Sankaran Vaidhyan Balan v. K. Bhaskaran, Criminal Appeal No. 234 of 1995, order dated 23-10-1998 (Ker)] by the High Court. It is not now open to the accused to contend differently on that aspect.” 15. The learned counsel for the respondent has, however, referred to the decision of this Court in Basalingappa v. Mudibasappa [Basalingappa v. Mudibasa 18( 2025:HHC:16872 ) ppa, (2019) 5 SCC 418: (2019) 2 SCC (Cri) 571] wherein it is held as hereunder: (SCC pp. 432-33, paras 25-26) “25. We having noticed the ratio laid down by this Court in the above cases on Sections 118(a) and 139, we now summarise the principles enumerated by this Court in the following manner: 25.1. Once the execution of the cheque is admitted, Section 139 of the Act mandates a presumption that the cheque was for the discharge of any debt or other liability. 25.2. The presumption under Section 139 is a rebuttable presumption, and the onus is on the accused to raise the probable defence. The standard of proof for rebutting the presumption is that of preponderance of probabilities. 25.3. To rebut the presumption, it is open for the accused to rely on evidence led by him or the accused can also rely on the materials submitted by the complainant in order to raise a probable defence. Inference of preponderance of probabilities can be drawn not only from the materials brought on record by the parties but also by reference to the circumstances upon which they rely. 25.4. That it is not necessary for the accused to come into the witness box in support of his defence, Section 139 imposed an evidentiary burden and not a persuasive burden. 25.5. It is not necessary for the accused to come into the witness box to support his defence. 26. Applying the preposition of law as noted above, in the facts of the present case, it is clear that the signature on the cheque, having been admitted, a presumption shall be raised under Section 139 that the cheque was issued in discharge of debt or liability. The question to be looked into is as to 19( 2025:HHC:16872 ) whether any probable defence was raised by the accused. In the cross-examination of PW 1, when the specific question was put that a cheque was issued in relation to a loan of Rs 25,000 taken by the accused, PW 1 said that he does not remember. PW 1 in his evidence admitted that he retired in 1997, on which date he received a monetary benefit of Rs 8 lakhs, which was encashed by the complainant. It was also brought in evidence that in the year 2010, the complainant entered into a sale agreement for which he paid an amount of Rs 4,50,000 to Balana Gouda towards sale consideration. Payment of Rs 4,50,000 being admitted in the year 2010 and further payment of loan of Rs 50,000 with regard to which Complaint No. 119 of 2012 was filed by the complainant, a copy of which complaint was also filed as Ext. D-2, there was a burden on the complainant to prove his financial capacity. In the years 2010-2011, as per own case of the complainant, he made a payment of Rs 18 lakhs. During his cross-examination, when the financial capacity to pay Rs 6 lakhs to the accused was questioned, there was no satisfactory reply given by the complainant. The evidence on record, thus, is a probable defence on behalf of the accused, which shifted the burden on the complainant to prove his financial capacity and other facts.” 16. In that light, it is contended that the very materials produced by the appellant and the answers relating to lack of knowledge of property details by PW 1 in his cross- examination would indicate that the transaction is doubtful, and no evidence is tendered to indicate that the amount was paid. In such an event, it was not necessary for the respondent to tender rebuttal evidence, but the case put forth would be sufficient to indicate that the respondent has successfully rebutted the presumption. 20( 2025:HHC:16872 ) 17. On the position of law, the provisions referred to in Sections 118 and 139 of the NI Act, as also the enunciation of law as made by this Court, need no reiteration as there is no ambiguity whatsoever. In Basalingappav. Mudibasappa [Basalingappa v. Mudibasappa, (2019) 5 SCC 418 : (2019) 2 SCC (Cri) 571] relied on by the learned counsel for the respondent, though on facts the ultimate conclusion therein was against raising presumption, the facts and circumstances are entirely different as the transaction between the parties as claimed in the said case is peculiar to the facts of that case where the consideration claimed to have been paid did not find favour with the Court keeping in view the various transactions and extent of amount involved. However, the legal position relating to the presumption arising under Sections 118 and 139 of the NI Act on signature being admitted has been reiterated. Hence, whether there is a rebuttal or not would depend on the facts and circumstances of each case.” 25. This position was reiterated in Tedhi Singh v. Narayan Dass Mahant, (2022) 6 SCC 735: (2022) 2 SCC (Cri) 726: (2022) 3 SCC (Civ) 442: 2022 SCC OnLine SC 302, wherein it was held at page 739: “8. It is true that this is a case under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. Section 139 of the NI Act provides that the court shall presume that the holder of a cheque received the cheque of the nature referred to in Section 138 for the discharge, in whole or in part, of any debt or other liability. This presumption, however, is expressly made subject to the position being proved to the contrary. In other words, it is open to the accused to establish that there is no consideration received. It is in the context of this provision that the theory of “probable defence” has grown. In an earlier judgment, in fact, which has also been adverted to in Basalingappa 21( 2025:HHC:16872 ) [Basalingappa v. Mudibasappa, (2019) 5 SCC 418: (2019) 2 SCC (Cri) 571], this Court notes that Section 139 of the NI Act is an example of reverse onus (see Rangappa v. Sri Mohan [Rangappa v. Sri Mohan, (2010) 11 SCC 441: (2010) 4 SCC (Civ) 477: (2011) 1 SCC (Cri) 184]). It is also true that this Court has found that the accused is not expected to discharge an unduly high standard of proof. It is accordingly that the principle has developed that all which the accused needs to establish is a probable defence. As to whether a probable defence has been established is a matter to be decided on the facts of each case on the conspectus of evidence and circumstances that exist...” 26. Similar is the judgment in P. Rasiya v. Abdul Nazer, 2022 SCC OnLine SC 1131, wherein it was observed: “As per Section 139 of the N.I. Act, it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that the holder of a cheque received the cheque of the nature referred to in Section 138 for discharge, in whole or in part, of any debt or other liability. Therefore, once the initial burden is discharged by the Complainant that the cheque was issued by the accused and the signature and the issuance of the cheque are not disputed by the accused, in that case, the onus will shift upon the accused to prove the contrary that the cheque was not for any debt or other liability. The presumption under Section 139 of the N.I. Act is a statutory presumption and thereafter, once it is presumed that the cheque is issued in whole or in part of any debt or other liability which is in favour of the Complainant/holder of the cheque, in that case, it is for the accused to prove the contrary.” 27. This position was reiterated in Rajesh Jain v. Ajay Singh, (2023) 10 SCC 148: 2023 SCC OnLine SC 1275, wherein it was observed at page 161: 22( 2025:HHC:16872 ) 33. The NI Act provides for two presumptions: Section 118 and Section 139. Section 118 of the Act inter alia directs that it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved that every negotiable instrument was made or drawn for consideration. Section 139 of the Act stipulates that “unless the contrary is proved, it shall be presumed that the holder of the cheque received the cheque for the discharge of, whole or part of any debt or liability”. It will be seen that the “presumed fact” directly relates to one of the crucial ingredients necessary to sustain a conviction under Section 138. [The rules discussed hereinbelow are common to both the presumptions under Section 139 and Section 118 and are hence not repeated—reference to one can be taken as reference to another] 34. Section 139 of the NI Act, which takes the form of a “shall presume” clause, is illustrative of a presumption of law. Because Section 139 requires that the Court “shall presume” the fact stated therein, it is obligatory for the Court to raise this presumption in every case where the factual basis for the raising of the presumption had been established. But this does not preclude the person against whom the presumption is drawn from rebutting it and proving the contrary, as is clear from the use of the phrase “unless the contrary is proved”. 35. The Court will necessarily presume that the cheque had been issued towards the discharge of a legally enforceable debt/liability in two circumstances. Firstly, when the drawer of the cheque admits issuance/execution of the cheque and secondly, in the event where the complainant proves that the cheque was issued/executed in his favour by the drawer. The circumstances set out above form the fact(s) which bring about the activation of the presumptive clause. [Bharat Barrel & Drum Mfg. Co. v. Amin Chand Payrelal [Bharat Barrel & Drum Mfg. Co. v. Amin Chand Payrelal, (1999) 3 SCC 35]] 36. Recently, this Court has gone to the extent of holding that presumption takes effect even in a situation where the accused contends that a blank cheque leaf was 23( 2025:HHC:16872 ) voluntarily signed and handed over by him to the complainant. [Bir Singh v. Mukesh Kumar [Bir Singh v. Mukesh Kumar, (2019) 4 SCC 197: (2019) 2 SCC (Civ) 309: (2019) 2 SCC (Cri) 40] ]. Therefore, the mere admission of the drawer's signature, without admitting the execution of the entire contents in the cheque, is now sufficient to trigger the presumption. 37. As soon as the complainant discharges the burden to prove that the instrument, say a cheque, was issued by the accused for discharge of debt, the presumptive device under Section 139 of the Act helps shifting the burden on the accused. The effect of the presumption, in that sense, is to transfer the evidential burden on the accused of proving that the cheque was not received by the Bank towards the discharge of any liability. Until this evidential burden is discharged by the accused, the presumed fact will have to be taken to be true, without expecting the complainant to do anything further. 38. John Henry Wigmore [John Henry Wigmore and the Rules of Evidence: The Hidden Origins of Modern Law] on Evidence states as follows: “The peculiar effect of the presumption of law is merely to invoke a rule of law compelling the Jury to reach the conclusion in the absence of evidence to the contrary from the opponent but if the opponent does offer evidence to the contrary (sufficient to satisfy the Judge's requirement of some evidence), the presumption ‘disappears as a rule of law and the case is in the Jury's hands free from any rule’.” 39. The standard of proof to discharge this evidential burden is not as heavy as that usually seen in situations where the prosecution is required to prove the guilt of an accused. The accused is not expected to prove the non- existence of the presumed fact beyond a reasonable doubt. The accused must meet the standard of “preponderance of probabilities”, similar to a defendant in 24( 2025:HHC:16872 ) a civil proceeding. [Rangappa v. Sri Mohan [Rangappa v. Sri Mohan, (2010) 11 SCC 441: (2010) 4 SCC (Civ) 477: (2011) 1 SCC (Cri) 184: AIR 2010 SC 1898]] 28. Therefore, the learned Courts below had rightly held that the cheque was issued by the accused in discharge of his legal liability. 29. The accused stated in his statement recorded under Section 313 CrPC that he was ready to pay his share, however, he failed to pay any amount to the complainant. He did not step into the witness box, and he did not examine any witnesses to prove that he had paid any amount to the complainant. It was held in Sumeti Vij v. Paramount Tech Fab Industries, (2022) 15 SCC 689: 2021 SCC OnLine SC 201 that the accused has to lead defence evidence and his statement under Section 313 is not sufficient. It was observed at page 700: “20. That apart, when the complainant exhibited all these documents in support of his complaints and recorded the statement of three witnesses in support thereof, the appellant has recorded her statement under Section 313 of the Code but failed to record evidence to disprove or rebut the presumption in support of her defence available under Section 139 of the Act. The statement of the accused recorded under Section 313 of the Code is not substantive evidence of defence, but only an opportunity for the accused to explain the incriminating circumstances appearing in the prosecution's case against the accused. Therefore, there is no evidence to rebut the presumption that the cheques were 25( 2025:HHC:16872 ) issued for consideration." (Emphasis supplied)” 30. It was submitted that the cheque was issued as a security. However, there is no proof of this fact. The accused admitted his liability to pay the amount to the complainant and showed his willingness to do so. Therefore, the plea that the cheque was issued as a security will not help the accused. 31. The complainant stated that the cheque was dishonoured with an endorsement “funds insufficient”. The accused did not deny this fact in his statement recorded under Section 313 of the Cr. P.C. The memo of dishonour (CW1/B) shows the reason for dishonour as “insufficient funds”. There is a presumption of correctness attached to the memo of dishonour under Section 146 of N.I. Act. The accused did not lead any evidence to rebut this presumption, and the learned Court below have rightly held that the cheque was dishonoured due to insufficient funds. 32. The complainant stated that he had issued a notice (Ex-CW1/F) to the accused. The accused stated that he did not remember whether the notice was received by him or not. The acknowledgement placed on record shows the signatures of the accused. The notice was sent through Registered 26( 2025:HHC:16872 ) acknowledgement due to the address on which the accused was served, therefore, there is a presumption under Section 27 of the General Clauses Act that it was duly served upon the accused. The accused failed to lead any evidence to rebut the presumption, and the learned Courts below had rightly held that the accused had received the notice. 33. Hence, it was duly proved on record that the accused had issued a cheque in favour of the complainant in discharge of his legal liability. The cheque was dishonoured due to the endorsement of insufficient funds, and the accused failed to pay the amount despite the receipt of the notice of demand. Therefore, all the ingredients of Section 138 of N I Act were duly satisfied, and the learned Courts below had rightly convicted the accused for the commission of an offence punishable under Section 138 of the N.I. Act. 34. Learned Trial Court sentenced the accused to undergo simple imprisonment for two years and pay a compensation of ₹2,60,000/-. The offence under Section 138 of N.I. Act can be punished with an imprisonment of two years, which means that the learned Trial Court had imposed the 27( 2025:HHC:16872 ) maximum sentence. The Learned Trial Court did not assign any reason for imposing the maximum sentence. It was stated that the offence was economic, and the trust in the banking system was breached by the act of the accused. However, these are irrelevant considerations for imposing the maximum sentence because these considerations were considered by the legislature while creating the offence and prescribing the punishment. Further, these considerations are present in every case of cheque dishonour. It was not even proved that the accused is a habitual offender, therefore, the imposition of the maximum sentence was not justified. Keeping in view the fact that the accused has been facing the agony of trial since 2015, the sentence of two years imposed by the learned Trial Court is reduced to six months. 35. Learned Trial Court directed the payment of compensation of ₹2,60,000/-. The cheque was issued for ₹2,61,994/-. It was laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Bir Singh v. Mukesh Kumar, (2019) 4 SCC 197: (2019) 2 SCC (Cri) 40: (2019) 2 SCC (Civ) 309: 2019 SCC OnLine SC 138 that the penal provisions of Section 138 is deterrent in nature. It was observed at page 203: 28( 2025:HHC:16872 ) “6. The object of Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act is to infuse credibility into negotiable instruments, including cheques, and to encourage and promote the use of negotiable instruments, including cheques, in financial transactions. The penal provision of Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act is intended to be a deterrent to callous issuance of negotiable instruments such as cheques without serious intention to honour the promise implicit in the issuance of the same.” 36. In the present case, the cheque was issued for ₹2,61,994/-and less than the cheque amount was awarded as compensation. Hence, the compensation awarded by the learned Trial Court is inadequate, but no proceedings were initiated by the complainant for awarding adequate compensation, and no interference is required with the compensation awarded by the learned Trial Court. 37. Learned Trial Court ordered that the convict shall undergo simple imprisonment for one year in default of payment of fine of ₹2,60,000/-. Section 30 of Cr.P.C provides that where the imprisonment has been awarded as a substantive sentence, the term of imprisonment in default of payment of fine cannot exceed 1/4th of the term of imprisonment which the learned Magistrate is competent to inflict. Since the learned Magistrate can inflict the punishment of two years for the commission of an offence punishable under Section 138 of the NI 29( 2025:HHC:16872 ) Act, therefore, he could have only imposed the sentence of six months imprisonment in default of payment of fine and not one year. Therefore, the default sentence imposed by the learned Trial Court is also liable to be interfered with. 38. The learned Appellate Court did not notice these aspects, hence, the judgment passed by the learned Appellate Court is also liable to be interfered with. 39. In view of the above, the present appeal is partly allowed, the judgment of the learned Trial Court is modified and the sentence of two years imposed by the learned Trial Court is reduced to six months and the default sentence of one year imposed by the learned Trial Court is reduced to three months. Subject to the modifications, the rest of the judgments and order passed by the learned Court below are upheld. 40. A copy of this judgment, along with the record of the learned Trial Court, be sent back forthwith. Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of. (Rakesh Kainthla) Judge 30th May, 2025 (Shamsh Tabrez)