Cognizance of Time-Barred Cheque Dishonour Complaint under Section 138 NI Act Cannot Be Taken Without First Condoning Delay: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has clarified that cognizance cannot be taken on a cheque dishonor complaint filed belatedly unless the delay is first condoned by the court. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Alok Aradhe set aside the Karnataka High Court’s decision, which had upheld the trial court’s action to take cognizance of a belated complaint without condoning the delay. Case Background The dispute arose from an alleged loan of…