IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
Crl MC No. 3068 of 2007()
1. SHEELA T.N., W/O.PRASANNAKUMAR,
... Petitioner
Vs
1. SEVEN SEAS FINANCE (PVT) LTD.,
... Respondent
2. THE STATE OF KERALA,
For Petitioner :SRI.P.RAMACHANDRAN
For Respondent : No Appearance
The Hon'ble MR. Justice R.BASANT
Dated :05/10/2007
O R D E R
R.BASANT, J
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Crl.M.C.No.3068 of 2007
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Dated this the 5th day of October, 2007
O R D E R
The petitioner, a woman, a member of the noble profession of
law, faces indictment in a prosecution under Section 138 of the
Negotiable Instruments Act. Cognizance has been taken. The
petitioner has not entered appearance before the learned Magistrate.
Consequently coercive processes have been issued against the
petitioner by the learned Magistrate. The petitioner finds a warrant
of arrest issued by the learned Magistrate chasing her.
2. According to the petitioner, she is innocent. Her absence
earlier was not wilful. She is willing to settle the disputes and ensure
that the complainant compounds the offence alleged against her.
Three weeks’ time is required to settle the disputes and report
composition. In these circumstances, it is prayed that the warrant of
arrest issued by the learned Magistrate against the petitioner may be
kept suspended and the petitioner may be given opportunity to appear
before the Magistrate and seek regular bail within such stipulated time.
3. It is for the petitioner to appear before the learned
Magistrate and explain to the learned Magistrate the circumstances
under which she could not earlier appear before the learned
Crl.M.C.No.3068 of 2007 2
Magistrate. I have no reason to assume that the learned Magistrate
would not consider such application on merits, in accordance with law
and expeditiously. Every court must do the same. No special or
specific direction appears to be necessary. Sufficient general
directions have already been issued in Alice George v. The Deputy
Superintendent of Police [2003(1) KLT 339].
4. This Crl.M.C is, in these circumstances, dismissed, but
with the specific observation that if the petitioner appears before the
learned Magistrate and applies for bail after giving sufficient prior
notice to the Prosecutor in charge of the case, the learned Magistrate
must proceed to pass appropriate orders on merits and expeditiously –
on the date of surrender itself.
5. In the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, I
direct that the warrant of arrest issued against the petitioner shall not
be executed till 19.10.07. The petitioner shall, in the meantime,
appear before the learned Magistrate and seek bail. If the matter is
settled before that, appropriate steps to report
composition/withdrawal can be taken by the parties concerned.
(R.BASANT, JUDGE)
rtr/-
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