2025:HHC:45323 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Criminal Revision No. : 120 of 2024 Decided on   :  23 rd   December, 2025 Naveen Chauhan …Petitioner Versus Vikas Jishtu … Respondent Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the petitioner : Petitioner   in   person   with   Mr. T.K. Verma, Advocate. For the respondents: Respondent   in   person   with   Mr. Pramod Singh Thakur, Advocate. Virender Singh, Judge (oral) Petitioner­Naveen   Chauhan   has   filed   the present   revision   petition   against   the   judgment   dated 29.08.2023,   passed   by   the   learned   Sessions   Judge, Kinnaur  Sessions  Division  at Rampur  Bushahr,  District Shimla,   H.P.   (hereinafter   referred   to   as   the   ‘Appellate Court’), in Criminal Appeal No.20 of 2023, titled as Naveen Chauhan versus Vikas Jistu. 2. By   way   of   judgment   dated   29.08.2023,   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:45323 the petitioner against the judgment of conviction and order of   sentence   dated   25.02.2023,   passed   by   the   Court   of learned   Additional   Chief   Judicial   Magistrate,   Rampur Bushahr, District Shimla, H.P., (hereinafter referred to as the ‘trial Court’), in Comp. 138 NI Act No.273/2015, titled as Vikas Jishtu versus Naveen Chauhan. 3. Vide   judgment   of   conviction   and   order   of sentence   dated   25.02.2023,   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 one year and to pay a compensation of Rs.17,00,000/­ to the complainant. 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 parties have settled the matter. Thereafter, the petitioner has filed application bearing Cr.MP No.5796 of 2025, for permitting  the  parties  to  compound the  offence, on  the ground that the matter has been settled between them. 3 2025:HHC:45323 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   Cheques No.759042, 759043 and 759044, dated 02.11.2015, 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 and order of sentence dated 25.02.2023. 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 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 complainant.   He has also deposed that he has deposited a sum of Rs.5,00,000/­, before the Registry of this   Court   and   he   has   no   objection,   in   case   the   said amount is released in favour of the complainant.  He has 4 2025:HHC:45323 also deposed that the remaining settled amount has been paid to the complainant. 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. Complainant/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 accused is acquitted by setting aside  the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 25.02.2023. 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 remaining amount from the petitioner­accused. 13. According to the respondent­complainant, the dispute with regard to Cheques No.759042, 759043 and 5 2025:HHC:45323 759044, dated 02.11.2015, has been settled between the parties. 14. Since, the matter, with regard to cheques, in question, has been settled between the parties, as such, the application, bearing Cr.MP No.5796 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 25.02.2023, passed by learned trial Court in Comp. 138 NI Act No.273/2015, which has been affirmed by learned Appellate Court, in Criminal Appeal No.20 of 2023, vide judgment dated 29.08.2023, 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 is subject to deposit 7.5% of the   cheque   amount,   as   compounding   fee,   within   four months   from   today.     50%   of   the   compounding   fee   be deposited   with   the   ‘Member   Secretary,   H.P.   State   Legal 6 2025:HHC:45323 Services Authority, Shimla’, and remaining 50% with the ‘H.P. High Court Staff Welfare Organization’. 17. It is further clarified that if the petitioner fails to deposit the compounding fee, as ordered by this Court, within   four   months,   then,   the   present  petition   shall   be deemed to have been dismissed, by reviving the judgment of   conviction   and   order   of   sentence   dated   25.02.2023, 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   petitioner­ accused, before the Registry of this Court, is ordered to be released  in   favour  of  the   complainant,   by  remitting   the same   to   his   bank   account,   particulars   of   which,   find mentioned   in   para   4   of   the   application,   bearing   Cr.MP No.5796 of 2025. 19. Pending   miscellaneous   applications,   if   any, shall also stand disposed of. ( Virender Singh ) December 23, 2025 (ps) Judge