A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday constituted a committee under Chairmanship of former Bombay High Court judge, Justice R.C. Chavan to suggest steps for expeditious disposal of cheque bounce cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
The other members of the committee are:
Officer from the Department of Financial Services not below the rank of Additional Secretary.
Officer from Department of Justice.
Officer from the Department of Corporate affairs
Officer from the Department of expenditure.
Member from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Member nominated by the Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Member nominated by the Chairman, Indian Bank Association (IBA).
Member of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) appointed as Secretary of the committee.
The Apex Court granted time to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta till March 12 to suggest names for the above posts. It is also directed by the Court that the committee will have to submits its report within 3 months.
The Bench was hearing a suo motu case initiated by it to examine measures to ensure expeditious trial of cheque bounce cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
The Apex Court Bench comprises of the CJI S.A. Bobde and Justices L. Nageswara Rao, B.R. Gavai, A.S. Bopanna and Ravindra Bhat noted that a recent study of the pending cases reflects pendency of more than 35 lakh cheque bounce cases were pending in various courts across the country which constitutes more than 15 percent of the total criminal cases pending in district courts.
The Suprem Court has issued notices to the Centre, Registrar General of all High Courts, Director-General of Police of all states and union territories, Member Secretary of the National Legal Services Authority, Reserve Bank of India and Indian Bank Association and asked them to file their response on the issue.