IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE N.K.BALAKRISHNAN WEDNESDAY, THE 2ND NOVEMBER 2011 / 11TH KARTHIKA 1933 Crl.MC.No. 2784 of 2011(C) ------------------------- CMP NO:3113/11 IN CC.426/2009 of JUDL. MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS-IV, KOZHIKODE .................... PETITIONER: ACCUSED ------------------- E.RAJENDRAN NAIR,S/O.KUTTYKRISHNAN NAIR, SREELAKSHMY HOUSE,KOLANGARAVALAPPIL, MODAKKALLOOR.P.O,KOTHANGAL. BY ADV. SRI.S.RAJEEV RESPONDENTS: COMPLAINANT -------------------------- 1. ABOOBACKER SIDIQUE,SWAPNAM, MANASSERY AMSOM, CHENNAMANGALUR DESOM, KOZHIKODE-673001. 2. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA,ERNAKULAM. R2 BY PUBLIC POSECUTOR SMT. S. HYMA THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 02/11/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: JJJ Crl.MC.No. 2784 of 2011(C) APPENDIX PETITIONERS ANNEXURES: ANNX. 1: COPY OF THE PETITION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS, KOZHIKODE, IN C.C.NO:426/09 ANNX. II: COPY OF ORDER IN CMP NO:3113/2011 IN CC NO:426/09 DATED 27.7.2011 PASSED BY THE JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS-IV, KOZHIKODE ANNX. III: COPY OF THE AGREEMENT DATED 28.08.2008 ANNX. IV: COPY OF THE AGREEMENT DATED 12.08.2008 RESPONDENTS ANNEXURES: NIL //TRUE COPY// P.A.TO JUDGE JJJ N.K. BALAKRISHNAN, J. ------------------------------------------ Crl. M.C. NO: 2784 OF 2011(C) ------------------------------------------ Dated this the 2nd day of November, 2011 O R D E R The petitioner is the accused in five cases instituted against him by the respondent alleging offences under section 138 of Negotiable Instrument Act. All the five cases were taken on file by the learned Magistrate. A petition was filed by the accused to have a joint trial on all the five cases together since, according to the petitioner, all the cheques were issued as part of the same transaction. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the cheques were issued by the accused allegedly to discharge the liability which arose out of one transaction, namely, the purchase of articles for the construction of the house. According to the learned counsel, since all the cheques happened to be issued in relation to one transaction, all the five cases can be tried together. Crl.M.C. No:2784/2011 2 The petition, for that purpose, filed by the accused before the learned Magistrate was dismissed stating that two cheques are covered by one agreement dated 28.8.2008 and the other cheques were covered by another agreement dated 12.8.2008. But the learned counsel would submit that though two agreements were executed, on going through the averments in the complaint, it can be found that the cheques were issued to discharge the liability which arose, as the accused was stated to have defaulted to pay the amount covered by the bills issued by the complainant when articles were puchased from the complainant. Though notice was issued to the complainant/respondent, he did not enter appearance. The learned counsel would submit that he did not raise any objection before the learned Magistrate also. According to the learned counsel, joint trial of all the cases would actually help the complainant also, as otherwise it would be difficult Crl.M.C. No:2784/2011 3 for the complainant to explain the execution of two agreements. What ever that be, submission made by the learned counsel is that no prejudice will be caused to the complainant or to the accused by having joint trial of all the five cases. It is true that the cause of action in each of the cases may be different, the dates of the cheques, presentment, dishonour and notice issued may be different from one another but, if all the cheques happened to be issued in relation to one transaction, there would be no difficulty to have all the five cases tried together. No prejudice will be caused to the complainant or to the accused if all the five cases are tried together. Hence this petition is allowed. Learned Magistrate will try all the five cases, mention above, together and will pass a common judgment. N.K. BALAKRISHNAN, JUDGE jjj