SC issues directions for speedy disposal of cheque bounce cases

New Delhi, April 16 The Supreme Court on Friday issued a slew of directions for speedy disposal of cheque bounce cases, which have choked the justice delivery system. The top court also recommended the Centre to amend the law to allow one trial in multiple cheques, if transactions involved are the same.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices L. Nageswara Rao, B.R. Gavai, A.S. Bopanna and S.Ravindra Bhat, asked the Centre to make "suitable amendments" in the Negotiable Instruments Act. The top court recommended that trials in cheque bounce cases lodged in 12 months against a person could be clubbed into one case.

The top court directed all the High Courts to issue guidelines for trial courts for speedy disposal of cheque bounce cases. The bench said the evidence in cheque bounce cases can now be tendered by filing affidavits, and there would not be any requirement to physically examine the witnesses.

The bench noted a committee headed by Justice R.C. Chavan, former Bombay High Court judge, will consider the issues not dealt by the court. The top court said the trial courts have no "inherent power" to review or recall the issue of summons in the cheque bounce cases.