Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881

Section - 142 - Cognizance of offences

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 .... To read the full section download the app from Google Play store