2025:HHC:31542 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr. Revision No.  : 444 of 2024 Decided on    : 12.09.2025 Ashok Kumar …Petitioner Versus Kapil & Anr. …Respondents The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the petitioner : Petitioner   in   person   with   Mr. Mukesh Sharma, Advocate. For the respondents : Respondent No. 1 in person with Ms Vandana Thakur, Advocate. Sh. H.S. Rawat, Addl. A.G. with Mr. Rohit   Sharma,   Deputy   A.G.,   for respondent No. 2 Virender Singh, Judge (oral) Petitioner – Ashok Kumar has filed the present Criminal Revision against the judgment dated 31.05.2024, passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Paonta Sahib, District Sirmaur, H.P. (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Appellate   Court’),   in   Criminal   Appeal   No.   110   of   2023, titled as ‘Ashok Kumar  Vs  Kapil & Anr.’ 2. By   way   of   judgment   dated   31.05.2024,   the learned Appellate Court has dismissed the appeal filed by 1 Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes. 2 2025:HHC:31542 the   petitioner   against   the   judgment   of   conviction   dated 21.06.2023   and   order   of   sentence   dated   26.06.2023, passed by the Court of learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Shillai, District Sirmaur, H.P., (hereinafter referred to as the ‘trial Court’), in Criminal Comp. No. 54/3 of 2022, titled as ‘Kapil Vs Ashok Kumar’. 3. Vide judgment of conviction dated 21.06.2023 and   order   of   sentence   dated   26.06.2023,   learned   trial Court   has   convicted   the   petitioner,   for   the   offence, punishable   under   Section   138   of   the   Negotiable Instruments Act (hereinafter referred to as the ‘NI Act’) and sentenced   him   to   undergo   simple   imprisonment,   for   a period of three months and to pay a fine/compensation of Rs. 84,072/­ to the complainant. 4. After   dismissal   of   the   appeal   by   the   learned Appellate Court, the present Criminal Revision has been preferred. 5. During the pendency of the present petition, the parties have settled the matter. Thereafter, the petitioner has filed application bearing Cr.MP No. 4094 of 2025, for permitting   the  parties  to   compound  the  offence,  on  the ground that the matter has been settled between them. 3 2025:HHC:31542 6. Statements   of   the   petitioner,   as   well   as,   the respondent, have been recorded, in which, they both have deposed   that   the   dispute   with   regard   to   Cheque   No. 049104, dated 18.11.2021, has been settled between the parties. 7. Today, the accused (petitioner) is present before this Court. He has deposed that he has been convicted and sentenced   by   the   learned   trial   Court   vide   judgment   of conviction dated 21.06.2023 and order of sentence dated 26.06.2023. 8. Against   the   said   judgment   of   conviction   and order of sentence, the petitioner had filed the appeal before the   learned   Appellate   Court   and   the   learned   Appellate Court has dismissed his appeal.   Now, he is before this Court, by way of the present Criminal Revision. 9. In addition to this, the accused (petitioner) has also submitted that during the pendency of the Criminal Revision, the matter has been compromised between him and the complainant.   He has also deposed that he has deposited a sum of Rs. 25,222/­, before the learned trial Court and he has no objection, in case the said amount is released in favour of complainant Kapil. 4 2025:HHC:31542 10. The  petitioner­accused  has  also deposed that on the basis of the said compromise, the present petition may kindly be allowed by setting aside the judgment of conviction and order of sentence, referred to above, and he may kindly be acquitted of the charge. 11. Respondent is also present in the Court and he has made the similar statement.  He has deposed that he, has no objection, in case, the present petition is allowed and the petitioner­accused is acquitted by setting aside the judgment   of   conviction   dated   21.06.2023   and   order   of sentence   dated   26.06.2023.     He   also   deposed   that   the amount of compensation i.e. Rs. 25,222/­, deposited by the petitioner­accused, before the learned trial Court, be released in his (respondent­complainant) favour. 12. On the basis of the above statements, one thing is   clear   that   the   matter   has   been   settled   between   the parties   and   in   pursuance   of   the   said   settlement, complainant   has   received   the   remaining   amount   of compensation from the petitioner. 13. According to the respondent­complainant, the dispute   with   regard   to   Cheque   No.   049104   dated 18.11.2021, has been settled between the parties. 5 2025:HHC:31542 14. Since,   the   matter,   with   regard   to   cheque,   in question, has been settled between the parties, as such, the application, bearing Cr.MP No.4094 of 2025, is allowed and the parties are permitted to compound the offence. 15. Considering   the   fact   that   the   application   for compounding of the offence has been allowed, the present petition is allowed and the judgment of conviction dated 21.06.2023   and   order   of   sentence   dated   26.06.2023, passed by learned trial Court in Comp. 138 N.I. Act No. 54/3   of   2018,   which   has   been   affirmed   by   learned Appellate Court, in Criminal Appeal No. 110 of 2023, vide judgment   dated   31.05.2024,   are   set   aside   and   the petitioner is acquitted from the offence, punishable under Section 138 NI Act. His personal and surety bonds are discharged. 16. However, this order shall be subject to deposit of 10% of the cheque amount, as compounding fee, within eight weeks from today.   50% of the compounding fee be deposited   with   the   Member   Secretary,   H.P.   State   Legal Services Authority, Shimla, and remaining 50% with the H.P. High Court Staff Welfare Organization, Shimla. 6 2025:HHC:31542 17. It is further clarified that if the petitioner fails to deposit the compounding fee, as ordered by this Court, within   eight   weeks,   then,   the   present   petition   shall   be deemed to have been dismissed, by reviving the judgment of   conviction   dated   21.06.2023,   and   order   of   sentence dated 26.06.2023, passed by learned trial Court and in that eventuality, he shall surrender before the learned trial Court to undergo the substantive sentence, imposed upon him, by the learned trial Court. 18. The amount deposited by the petitioner­accused before the learned trial Court, is ordered to be released in favour of the complainant. 19. Pending   miscellaneous   applications,   if   any, shall also stand disposed of. (Virender Singh) Judge 12th September, 2025 (Pramod Kumar)