2025:HHC:31088 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Criminal Revision No. 518 of 2025 Decided on : 10 th   September, 2025 Raj Kumar …Petitioner Versus Himachal Pradesh Gramin Bank & Another …Respondents Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the petitioner : Petitioner Raj Kumar in the custody of HHC Ibrar Mirza No,329 and C. Dheeraj   No.423,   of   Police   Line, Chamba. Mr. Bodh   Raj   and   Mr. Subhash Chander, Advocates for   the petitioner. For the respondent: Mr. K.B.   Khajuria,   Advocate,   for respondent No.1. Ms. Ranjna Patial, Deputy Advocate General, for respondent No.2. Virender Singh, Judge (oral) Petitioner   –   Raj   Kumar   has   filed   the   present revision petition against the judgment dated 06.03.2025, passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Chamba, District   Chamba,   H.P.     (hereinafter   referred   to   as   the ‘Appellate Court’), in Criminal Appeal No.59 of 2024, titled as Raj Kumar versus Himachal Pradesh Gramin Bank. 1 Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes. 2 2025:HHC:31088 2. By   way   of   judgment   dated   06.03.2025,   the learned Appellate Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the petitioner against the judgment of conviction, dated 11.06.2024   and   order   of   sentence   dated   09.07.2024, passed by the Court of learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Tissa, District Chamba, H.P., (hereinafter referred to as the ‘trial Court’), in Comp. U/s 138 NI Act No.100/2019, titled   as   Himachal   Pradesh   Gramin   Bank   versus   Raj Kumar. 3. Vide judgment of conviction, dated 11.06.2024 and   order   of   sentence   dated   09.07.2024,   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   one   year   and   to   pay   a   compensation   of Rs.1,30,000/­ to the complainant. In default of payment of compensation,  he   has   been   directed   to   further   undergo simple imprisonment for a period of one month. 3 2025:HHC:31088 4. After   dismissal   of   the   appeal   by   the   learned Appellate   Court,   the   present   revision   petition   has   been preferred. 5. During the pendency of the present petition, the dispute   with   regard   to   Cheque   No.703701,   dated 20.05.2019, has been settled. Thereafter, the petitioner has filed application bearing Cr.MP No.3979 of 2025, for permitting  the  parties  to  compound the  offence, on  the ground that the matter has been settled between them. 6. Statements of the petitioner, as well as, learned counsel for the respondent, have been recorded, in which, they both have deposed that the dispute with regard to Cheque   No.703701,   dated   20.05.2019,   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 11.06.2024 and order of sentence dated 09.07.2024, 8. Against   the   said   judgment   of   conviction   and order of sentence, the petitioner had filed the appeal before 4 2025:HHC:31088 the   learned   Appellate   Court   and   the   learned   Appellate Court has also dismissed his appeal.  Now, he is before this Court, in the present revision petition. 9. In addition to this, the accused (petitioner) has also submitted that during the pendency of the revision petition, the matter has been compromised between him and the complainant­Bank and now nothing is due against him with regard to the cheque in question. 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. In addition to this, the accused (petitioner) has also deposed that he is a poor person and in the recent rainy season, his house has been washed away, as such, some leniency may kindly be shown, while assessing the compounding fee. 12. Learned counsel for the respondent­Bank has also made  the similar statement.   He has deposed that respondent­Bank, has no objection, in case, the present 5 2025:HHC:31088 petition is allowed and the petitioner­accused is acquitted by   setting   aside   the   judgment   of   conviction,   dated 11.06.2024 and order of sentence dated 09.07.2024. 13. On the basis of the above statements, one thing is   clear   that   the   matter   has   been   settled   between   the parties.   According   to   the   learned   counsel   for   the respondent­Bank,   the   dispute   with   regard   to   Cheque No.703701 dated 20.05.2019, has been settled between the parties. 14. Since,   the   matter,   with   regard   to   cheque,   in question, has been settled between the parties, as such, the application, bearing Cr.MP No.3979 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 11.06.2024   and   order   of   sentence   dated   09.07.2024, passed by learned trial Court in Comp. U/s 138 NI Act No.100/2019,   which   has   been   affirmed   by   learned Appellate Court, in Criminal Appeal No.59 of 2024, vide judgment   dated   06.03.2025,   are   set   aside   and   the 6 2025:HHC:31088 petitioner is acquitted from the offence, punishable under Section 138 NI Act. His personal and surety bonds are discharged. 16. The accused (petitioner) has stated that he is a poor person and in the recent rainy season, his house has been washed away, as such, some leniency may kindly be shown, while assessing the compounding fee. 17. Considering the  said  fact, this  Court is of the view that the ends of justice would meet, if the petitioner is directed   to   deposit   5%   of   the   cheque   amount,   as compounding fee, within eight weeks from today.  Ordered accordingly.   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. 18. Since, petitioner­accused is in judicial custody, as such, he is ordered to be released, if not required in any other case. 19. 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 7 2025:HHC:31088 deemed to have been dismissed, by reviving the judgment of   conviction,   dated   11.06.2024   and   order   of   sentence dated 09.07.2024, 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. 20. Pending   miscellaneous   applications,   if   any, shall also stand disposed of. ( Virender Singh ) September 10, 2025 (ps) Judge RAJNI Digitally signed by RAJNI Date: 2025.09.11 11:02:44 +0530