Quick Summary: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court agreed with a decision to allow a delay in filing a cheque bounce complaint. The case involved a cheque issued by V. Kannan that bounced, and the court decided the delay was justified due to a family wedding.
The case, CRL RC(MD)No.664 of 2025, was heard by Judge L. Victoria Gowri. It was about a cheque issued by V. Kannan to P. Pon Rajesh that bounced on June 27, 2022. The cheque was written from Vijaya Bank and returned with the note "Bank on Blockage."
The person who complained, P. Pon Rajesh, sent a notice on July 5, 2022, asking for payment within 15 days. However, because of a family wedding, the original cheque and documents were misplaced. They were found on August 15, 2022, causing a delay in filing the complaint.
The judge in Sivakasi allowed the delay, noting:
The court found these reasons reasonable and not careless.
V. Kannan argued that the delay was not justified and that the written statement was inconsistent. He pointed out differences in the dates and claimed the delay was done on purpose.
Judge L. Victoria Gowri emphasized that the length of the delay wasn't as important as the reason for it. The court found the explanation reasonable and not done with bad intentions. The court also noted that small mistakes in the process shouldn't overshadow the important rights involved.
On November 20, 2025, the court dismissed the appeal, confirming the earlier decision. The complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act will continue without being affected by this order.
