[138 NI Act] Accused Not Competent To Tender Evidence On Affidavit: Reiterates Punjab & Haryana HC [Read Judgment]
Live LawThe Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that an accused facing trial under the provisions of Negotiable Instruments Act cannot be allowed to tender evidence on affidavit. Justice Surinder Gupta said, "the petitioner being an accused, who is facing trial in complaint under the provisions of Negotiable Instruments Act, is not competent to tender his evidence through affidavit and learned trial Court has not committed any error while declining permission to this effect to petitioner." In the said case, the Apex Court took up and decided the issue as to whether the accused can be allowed to give evidence on affidavit as per provisions of Section 145 of NI Act and observed that it was wrong to equate the defence evidence with the complainant's evidence and to extend the option of giving evidence on affidavit to the accused as well. Noting that the observations made by the court in case of Mandvi Cooperative Bank Ltd. had not been set aside or dissented in the case of Indian Bank Association, the high court said, "In view of clear proposition of law as laid down in Mandvi Cooperative Bank Ltd. by Hon'ble Apex Court, the petitioner being an accused, who is facing trial in complaint under the provisions of Negotiable Instruments Act, is not competent to tender his evidence through affidavit and learned trial Court has not committed any error while declining permission to this effect to petitioner."