WIDE INTERPRETATION TO SECTION 148 NI ACT 1882
SC in its recent judgment held that it is mandatory to deposit fine/compensation as contemplated under newly inserted section 148 Negotiable Instrument Act 1882 as amended upto date and applies irrespective to criminal proceedings already initiated. Apex Court in its recent ruling “ Surinder Singh Deswal @ Col. S.S.Deswal and others verses Virender Gandhi” Criminal Appeal No 917944 of 2019(Arising out of SLP(Criminal) Nos. 4948-4975/2019 dated 29/05/2019 held that Section 148 of the N.I. Act, shall be applicable with respect to criminal proceedings already initiated prior to the amendment in Section 148 of the N.I. Act whereby appellants have been directed by the First Appellate Court to deposit 25% of the amount of the compensation/fine imposed by the learned trial court. The question involved in the case that whether the first appellate court was justified in directing the appellants who have been convicted for the offence under Section 138 of the N.I. Act to depo