2026:HHC:14731 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Criminal Revision No. 778 of 2024 Date of Decision: 05.05.2026 _______________________________________________________ Gauri Dutt Sharma …….Petitioner Versus J.C.C. Bank … Respondent _______________________________________________________ Coram: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Sharma, Judge. Whether approved for reporting? 1 For the Petitioner: Mr. Vishal Bindra, Advocate. For the Respondent: Mr. Arvind Sharma, Advocate. _______________________________________________________ Sandeep Sharma, Judge(oral): Instant Criminal Revision Petition filed under Section 438 read with Section 442 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, lays challenge to judgment dated 21.10.2024, passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge-I, Solan, District Solan, Himachal Pradesh, in Criminal Appeal No.4AK/10 of 2021, affirming the judgment of conviction dated 07.10.2021 and order of sentence dated 08.10.2021, passed by learned Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Arki, District Solan, Himachal Pradesh, in criminal complaint case No.247/3 of 2017, whereby learned trial Court, while holding the petitioner- accused (hereinafter, ‘accused’) guilty of having committed offence punishable under S. 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, (for short ‘Act’) convicted and sentenced him to undergo simple imprisonment 1Whether the reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2 2026:HHC:14731 for a period of one month and pay compensation to the tune of Rs.5,50,000/- to the respondent-complainant (hereinafter, ‘complainant’). 2. Precisely, the facts of the case, as emerge from the record are that the respondent-complainant instituted a complaint under Section 138 of the Act in the competent Court of law, alleging therein that cheque bearing No.299302, dated 07.10.2017, amounting to Rs.5, 00,000/- drawn on Punjab National Bank, Kunihar, having been issued by the petitioner-accused towards discharge of his lawful liability was dishonoured on account of insufficient funds in the bank account of the accused. Since, despite having received legal notice, accused failed to make the payment good well within stipulated time, complainant was compelled to initiate proceedings under Section 138 of the Act in the competent Court of law, which subsequently on the basis of evidence adduced on record by the respective parties, held the accused guilty of having committed offence punishable under S. 138 of Act and accordingly convicted and sentenced him as per description given herein above. 3. Though, being aggrieved and dissatisfied with aforesaid judgment of conviction and order of sentence passed by learned trial Court, accused preferred an appeal in the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge-I, Solan, District Solan, Himachal Pradesh, but same was dismissed vide judgment dated 21.10.2024. In the aforesaid 3 2026:HHC:14731 background, petitioner-accused has approached this court in the instant proceedings, praying therein for his acquittal after setting aside judgments of conviction and order of sentence passed by learned trial Court as well as Appellate Court. 4. Vide order dated 29.11.2024, this Court suspended the substantive sentence imposed upon the accused by learned trial Court, subject to the petitioner-accused depositing 30% of the compensation amount and furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs. 50,000/-, with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of learned trial Court. 5. Before the case at hand could be heard and decided on its own merit, petitioner has entered into the compromise with the respondent/Complainant, whereby they have resolved to settle their dispute amicably interse them. On account of the compromise, petitioner filed an application under Section 147 of the Act, praying therein for compounding of the offence. 6. Today, during the proceedings of the case, learned counsel representing the petitioner stated that the petitioner has entered into the compromise with the respondent-complainant, whereby they have resolved to settle their dispute amicably interse them. He stated that entire amount of compensation lying deposited with the Registry of this Court as well as learned trial Court can be ordered to be released in favour of the respondent-complainant and 4 2026:HHC:14731 thereafter, this Court, while exercising power under Section 147 of the Act, may proceed to compound the offence and acquit the accused of charge framed against him under Section 138 of the Act. 7. Mr. Arvind Sharma, learned counsel representing the respondent-complainant submitted that respondent-complainant shall have no objection in compounding the offence in case, amount lying deposited with the Registry of this Court as well as learned trial Court is ordered to be released in favour of the respondent-complainant. 8. Having taken note of the fact that entire amount of compensation has been agreed to be paid to the respondent- complainant and respondent-complainant has no objection in compounding the offence, this Court sees no impediment in accepting the prayer made on behalf of the petitioner for compounding of offence, while exercising power under Section 147 of the Act as well as in terms of guidelines issued by the Hon’ble Apex Court in Damodar S. Prabhu V. Sayed Babalal H. (2010) 5 SCC 663, wherein it has been categorically held that court, while exercising power under Section 147 of the Act, can proceed to compound the offence even after recording of conviction. 9. Consequently, in view of the above, present matter is ordered to be compounded and impugned judgments of conviction and order of sentence passed by learned trial Court as well as Appellate Court are set-aside and the petitioner-accused is acquitted 5 2026:HHC:14731 of the charge framed against him under Section 138 of the Act. Bail bonds, if any, are discharged. Interim order, if any, is vacated. 10. Since complainant was compelled to engage in unwarranted litigation with the accused for realization of his own amount, petitioner-accused is directed to pay sum of Rs. 10,000/- as litigation charges to the respondent-complainant and deposit Rs. 5000/- with the H.P. State Legal Service Authority as compounding fee within a period of six weeks, failing which, he shall render himself liable for penal consequences as well as contempt of the Court. 11. Learned trial Court as well as Registry of this Court is directed to release the amount lying deposited with them in favour of the respondent-complainant, by remitting the same in its bank account, details whereof shall be furnished by learned counsel for the respondent-complainant within a period of one week. (Sandeep Sharma), Judge May 05,2026 (shankar)