Negotiable Instruments Act : Cognizance of offences. Indian Bare Acts :

Negotiable Instruments Act,1881

Act No : 26

Section : Cognizance of offences.

142.Cognizance of offences. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974),- (a)no court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under section 138 except upon a complaint, in writing, made by the payee or, as the case may be, the holder in due course of the cheque; (b)such complaint is made within one month of the date on which the cause of action arises under clause (c) of the proviso to section 138; (c)no court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence punishable under section 138.]