“Poverty Cannot Be Ground for Incarceration,” Convict Released for Non-Payment of Costs Despite Cheque Bounce Settlement: Rajasthan High Court

In a crucial judgment dated 31 March 2026, the Rajasthan High Court held that an accused cannot be kept in jail merely for failure to pay compounding costs after settlement of a cheque dishonour case. The Court emphasized that personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution cannot be made dependent on a person’s financial capacity. Background of the Case The case arose from proceedings under Section 138 Negotiable Instruments…