Satish Chandra v. Pawan Kumar and Another
Case brief
What is this about?
Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench (Alok Mathur, J.), order dated 17.4.2025, neutral citation 2025:AHC-LKO:21678, Application U/S 483 No. 316 of 2025 (Satish Chandra v. Pawan Kumar and another). Section 483 CrPC petition for expeditious trial of a Section 138 NI Act cheque-dishonour complaint (Rs.3,00,000/-; criminal case No.1659 of 2023, Sultanpur). Court held the six-month trial limit in Section 143(2) NI Act is directory, not mandatory, and declined to direct expedition in view of docket pendency before Judicial Magistrates in Section 138 matters; liberty given to approach the trial court. Keywords: expeditious disposal, directory vs mandatory, Section 143(2) NI Act, Section 483 CrPC, non-bailable warrants, Sultanpur.
What did the court decide?
Application disposed of subject to the direction granting the applicant liberty to move an appropriate application before the trial court for expedition, to be considered and disposed of with expedition; no direction issued to expedite the trial.