DAYALBHAI B PATEL - PROP. M/S.DELTA RUBBER & PLASTIC PRODUCTversusAHMEDABAD MERCENTILE CO-OP BANK LTD - ODHAV BRANCH
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The Gujarat High Court quashed and set aside the earlier judgments, disposing of the revision application.
Summary
Dayalbhai B Patel, proprietor of M/S Delta Rubber & Plastic, filed a criminal revision seeking to quash earlier convictions and obtain a refund of Rs.10,000 deposited with the appellate court. The dispute centered on a cheque of Rs.25,000 that had been deposited and the applicant’s attempt to compound the offence under Section 147 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, initially offering 15% of the cheque amount as compounding charges. The bank, as complainant, delayed a decision, leading to multiple adjournments. The Gujarat High Court, relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Sanjabij Tari v. Kishore S Boarcar (2025 INSC 1158), held that once an offence is compoundable, the matter is essentially civil and the compounding charge should be reduced to 7.5%. Consequently, the court disposed of the revision application, quashing and setting aside the judgments of the Sessions Court and Metropolitan Magistrate, and ordered the earlier proceedings to be nullified.
Issues considered
- Whether the earlier convictions can be quashed on the ground that the offence is compoundable under Section 147 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.
- Whether the compounding charge should be 15% of the cheque amount or reduced to 7.5% as per Supreme Court precedent.
- Whether the revision application seeking quash of the judgments should be entertained.
Legislation cited
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.RA/93/2011 ORDER DATED: 08/04/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL REVISION APPLICATION NO. 93 of 2011
==========================================================
DAYALBHAI B PATEL - PROP. M/S.DELTA RUBBER & PLASTIC
PRODUCT
Versus
AHMEDABAD MERCENTILE CO-OP BANK LTD - ODHAV BRANCH & ANR.
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR UDAY R BHATT(192) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR PARTHIV A BHATT(5331) for the Respondent(s) No. 1
MS MONALI BHATT, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 2
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR
Date : 08/04/2026
ORAL ORDER
1. By way of this application, the applicant has sought the
following relief:
“(b) call for the records and proceedings of Criminal Appeal No.
196 of 2010 before the Ahmedabad City Sessions Court and
judgment exhibit 13 dated 7.2.2011 passed by Hon'ble Principal
Sessions Judge, City Sessions Court, Ahmedabad and of
Criminal Case No. 1345 of 2008 (which was earlier numbered as
Criminal Case 518 of 1998) before the Metropolitan Magistrate's
Court, Ahmedabad and also the Negotiable Instrument Act Court
No.1 Ahmedabad and judgment exhibit 33 dated 29.4.2010
passed by Hon'ble Judge Metropolitan Magistrate and Negotiable
Instruments Act, Court No.1 Ahmedabad and examine the
correctness, legality, propriety and validity of the judgments of
the learned courts below including their findings and sentences
passed against the petitioner and quash and set aside the
judgments of the learned courts below and quashed the original
complaint against the petitioner filed by the respondent and
acquit the petitioner of all charges and also order refund of the
amount of Rs. 10,000/- deposited before the Learned Appellate
Court and pass such other and further and other orders deemed
fit and proper on the facts and in the circumstances of the case.”
2. Heard learned advocates for the respective parties.
Page 1 of 3
R/CR.RA/93/2011 ORDER DATED: 08/04/2026
3. Mr. P.A. Bhatt, learned advocate appearing for respondent
No.1-Bank, has submitted that he has addressed a letter to the
complainant-Bank; however, till date, the Bank has neither
replied nor contacted him and, therefore, he is unable to assist
the Court.
4. The Coordinate Bench of this Court on 17.09.2012 passed
the following order:
“Shri Uday Bhatt, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the
applicant has stated at the Bar that apropos his request to
permit the applicant to compound the offence on deposit of the
entire cheque amount and on deposit of 15% cheque amount in
the name of Gujarat State Legal Services Authority (which was
agreeable to learned advocate appearing on behalf of the
original complainant). The applicant has already deposited the
entire cheque amount with the learned Appellate Court as well
as before this Court and has also brought the 15% of the
cheque amount so as to enable the applicant to compound the
offence.
Shri Parthiv Bhatt, learned advocate appearing on behalf of
respondent No.1 original complainant has stated at the Bar
that as such the Board of the Bank is required to take final
decision on the aforesaid. At this stage, it is required to be
noted that as such the matter was considered by this Court on
last date and infact learned advocate appearing on behalf of
the complainant was agreeable for compounding the offence
and the matter was adjourned to today so as to enable the
applicant to bring 15% of the cheque amount so as to enable
him to request for compounding of the offence. However, for
whatever reason the complainant has turned around. Shri
Parthiv Bhatt, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the
complainant has requested to adjourn the matter to 8th
October 2012 while submitting that in the meantime Board of
Bank may take fresh decision on the aforesaid. Hence, as a
last chance, stand over to 8th October 2012. Adinterim
order/protection granted earlier is directed to be continued till
further orders.”
Page 2 of 3
R/CR.RA/93/2011 ORDER DATED: 08/04/2026
5. Since the cheque amount of Rs.25,000/- has already been
deposited, the only issue which remained was with regard to
deposit of the compounding charges at the rate of 15%. For
taking instructions from the complainant, namely, Ahmedabad
Mercantile Co-operative Bank Ltd., and for passing an
appropriate decision or resolution, the matter came to be
adjourned from time to time. It is needless to say that in view of
the law laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of
Sanjabij Tari vs. Kishore S Boarcar & Anr. reported in 2025
INSC 1158, once the offence is compoundable under Section
147 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and the dispute is
essentially civil in nature, no further dispute survives. Moreover,
the compounding charges are required to be reduced to 7.5%.
6. In view of the above, the present Revision Application
stands disposed of. The judgment and order dated 7.2.2011
passed by Hon'ble Principal Sessions Judge, City Sessions
Court, Ahmedabad in Criminal Appeal No. 196 of 2010 and
judgment and order dated 29.4.2010 passed by Hon'ble Judge
Metropolitan Magistrate and Negotiable Instruments Act, Court
No.1 Ahmedabad in Criminal Case No. 1345 of 2008 as well as
all consequential proceedings initiated in pursuance thereof are
hereby quashed and set aside. Rule is made as absolute to the
aforesaid extent.
(HASMUKH D. SUTHAR,J)
ALI
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: ISTAYAK ALI(HC01093), PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 09/04/2026 11:23:51
Page 3 of 3
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