IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Criminal Misc. No. M-12732 of 2009 (O&M) Date of decision: 8th May, 2009 Devan Salgotra … Petitioner Versus Hardial Singh … Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA Present: Mr. Sandeep Arora, Advocate for the petitioner. KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA, J. (ORAL) Present petition has been filed under Section 438 Cr.P.C. for issuance of direction to Judicial Magistrate (1st Class), Jalandhar to release the petitioner on bail on his appearance, as non-bailable warrants have been issued in a complaint titled ‘Hardial Singh v. Devan Salgotra’ filed under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act. Counsel has submitted that as per the allegations of the complainant, a cheque amounting to Rs.50,000/- was issued by the petitioner. The same bounced and a complaint has been instituted. Petitioner could not appear on the date fixed and therefore, non-bailable warrants have been issued. Counsel has stated that petitioner is ready and willing to pay the amount of cheque, i.e. Rs.50,000/- along with interest and cost. In view of the prayer made by counsel for the petitioner, let petitioner show his bonafide by depositing Rs.60,000/- in the trial Court on or before 20th May, 2009. In case petitioner deposits the said amount, he Criminal Misc. No. M-12732 of 2009 (O&M) shall be released on bail. After the amount is deposited, the trial Court shall refer the matter to Mediation and Conciliation Centre at Jalandhar or to Permanent Lok Adalat at Jalandhar for redressal of the dispute through alternative dispute redressal mechanism. The trial Court, if deem fit, may make its own endeavour for resolution of the dispute. In the present case, directions are being issued without issuance of notice to the complainant, as this Court feels that appearance of the petitioner and deposit of the cheque is in the interest of complainant. With these observations, present petition is disposed off. [KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA] JUDGE May 8, 2009 rps 2