Section 142 Cognizance of offences. of NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS ACT, 1881

Cognizance of offences.

142. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974),—

(a)        no court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under section 138 except upon a complaint, in writing, made by the payee or, as the case may be, the holder in due course of the cheque;

(b)        such complaint is made within one month of the date on which the cause of action arises under clause (c) of the proviso to section 138:

              [Provided that the cognizance of a complaint may be taken by the Court after the prescribed period, if the complainant satisfies the Court that he had sufficient cause for not making a complaint within such period;]

(c)        no court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence punishable under section 138.]