I have stated long back that there are so many orders by Kerala HC, especially by Justice K Hema, that they are must for every defense counsels. It is a very sorry state of affairs (things are improving) that cheque dishonor and even the Hon magistrate draws presumption under S.139, approach any one and they say stay away from cheque bounce and settle. This confusion is further compounded by the word "holder" used in S.139, the people feel that Holder is synonym with possessor but it is not in legal parlance, Holder is defined in NI act, so presumption is available to only Holder, that means to become the Holder complainant is required to prove the entitlement, the liability. The law does not state that liability amount is to be disproved by accused (this is incorrect interpretation) from the word go...accused is required to disprove only if complainant first proves himself to be a holder, then only presumption is available to him.
Unfortunately only Kerala HC is following this line, Delhi HC and P&H HC (with due respect) have given absurd ruling, that complainant is not required to prove anything, but things are changing, SC has also not clarified the position with respect to presumption, the way Kerala HC has done, still the recent few orders have clearly stated that complainant is required to prove the liability reasonably. The SC observation that once the signature is admitted then the court has to draw the presumption under S.139 has become the yardstick and kind of being misused, well this only proves that cheque is drawn by accused, but it does not make the complainant holder, so only when cheque execution is proved and complainant proves the entitlement, presumption can be drawn. Very soon life for accused under S.138 will become comfortable.