2025:HHC:42182 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr. Revision No.  : 383 of 2024 Decided on    : 05.12.2025 Goverdhan Dutt @ Hira Lal …Petitioner Versus Satpal …Respondent The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the petitioner : Petitioner   in   person   with   Mr.   G.R. Palsra, Advocate. For the respondent : Mr. Naveen K. Bhardwaj, Advocate. Virender Singh, Judge (oral) Petitioner – Goverdhan Dutt @ Hira Lal has filed the present Criminal Revision against the judgment dated 29.04.2024,   passed   by   the   learned   Additional   Sessions Judge, Kullu, District Kullu, H.P. (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Appellate Court’), in Criminal Appeal No. 02 of 2024 titled as ‘Goverdhan Dutt alias Hira Lal Vs Satpal’. 2. By   way   of   judgment   dated   29.04.2024,   the learned Appellate Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the petitioner against the judgment of conviction and order of   sentence   dated   05.12.2023,   passed   by   the   Court   of 1 Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes. 2 2025:HHC:42182 learned   Judicial   Magistrate   First   Class,   Banjar,   District Kullu, H.P., (hereinafter referred to as the ‘trial Court’), in Criminal   Comp.   No.   496/19/18,   titled   as   ‘Satpal   Vs Goverdhan Datt @ Hira Lal’. 3. Vide   judgment   of   conviction   and   order   of sentence   dated   05.12.2023,   the   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 two months and to pay   a   fine/compensation   of   Rs.   2,30,000/­   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. 5372 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,   the learned Counsel for the respondent, have been recorded, in 3 2025:HHC:42182 which, they both have deposed that the dispute with regard to Cheque No. 029936, dated 24.09.2018, has been settled between the parties.   The entire settlement amount has been paid and nothing is due qua cheque No. 029936, dated 24.09.2018. 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 and order of sentence dated 05.12.2023. 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.   Petitioner had deposited a sum of Rs.   75,000/­   before   the   learned   trial   Court   and   the remaining amount has been paid to complainant Satpal. Petitioner Goverdhan Dutt @ Hira Lal has no objection, if 4 2025:HHC:42182 the   amount   deposited   by   him,   is   released   in   favour   of complainant Satpal. 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. Learned Counsel  for the respondent has also made   the   similar   statement.     He   has   deposed   that   the amount deposited by the accused before the learned trial Court,   be   released   in   favour   of   complainant   Satpal. Respondent­complainant   has   no   objection,   in   case,   the present petition is allowed and the petitioner­accused is acquitted by setting aside the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 05.12.2023. 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   entire   amount   of compensation from the petitioner. 5 2025:HHC:42182 13. According to the respondent­complainant, the dispute   with   regard   to   Cheque   No.   029936   dated 24.09.2018, 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.5372 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   and order  of sentence, dated 05.12.2023, passed by learned trial Court in Comp. 138 N.I. Act No. 496/19/18, which has been affirmed by learned Appellate Court, in Criminal Appeal No. 02 of 2024, vide judgment dated 29.04.2024, 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 7.5% 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 6 2025:HHC:42182 Services Authority, Shimla, and remaining 50% with the H.P. High Court Staff Welfare Organization, Shimla. 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   and   order   of   sentence   dated   05.12.2023, 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,   so   deposited   by   the   petitioner­ accused,   in   the   learned   trial   Court,   be   released   to   the respondent­complainant. 19. Pending   miscellaneous   applications,   if   any, shall also stand disposed of. (Virender Singh) Judge 05th December, 2025 (Pramod Kumar)