Augustine George Masih, J
Prayer in this petition is for issuance of orders to run the sentence of the petitioner concurrently passed by Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate,
Mukerian, vide judgment dated 07.09.2015.
It is the contention of learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner had issued cheques, which were the subject matter of two separate
complaints initiated by the respondent-Punjab State Warehousing Corporation (hereinafter referred to as 'Corporation'). He contends that these were
in pursuance to and relatable to the agreement dated 04.10.2004. Although the petitioner has been convicted and sentence in these two complaints by
judgments of conviction and orders of sentence dated 07.09.2015 (Annexure P-1 and P-2 respectively) passed by Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate,
Mukerian, but nothing has been mentioned with regard to the factum of the sentence being running concurrently or otherwise.
Appeals preferred by the petitioner stand dismissed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Hoshiarpur, vide judgments dated 29.08.2017 (Annexures P-3
and P-4 respectively). Counsel thus contends that the petitioner, left with no option, has moved this petition for grant of benefit of Section 427 Cr.P.C.
read with Section 482 Cr.P.C. for ordering the two sentences to run concurrently. In support of this contention, he has placed reliance upon the
judgment of Supreme Court in V.K. Bansal Versus State of Haryana and others 2013(7) SCC 211 and contends that the prayer made by the
petitioner in the present petition is covered by the ratio of the said judgment as the said case also relates to proceedings initiated under Section 138 of
the Negotiable Instruments Act.
Counsel for the respondents, on the other hand, contends that the petitioner is not entitled to the benefit of the provisions of Section 427 Cr.P.C. as
also the judgment of the Supreme Court, on which reliance has been placed. He, however, could not dispute the assertion of the counsel for the
petitioner that these two cheques were issued by the petitioner in pursuance to the agreement dated 04.10.2004.
Having considered the submissions made by the counsel for the parties and in the light of the undisputed facts, this Court is of the considered view that
the prayer made in the present petition is covered by the ratio of the judgment in V.K. Bansal's case (supra).
In view of the above, the present petition is allowed.
Petitioner is granted the benefit of Section 427 Cr.P.C. read with Section 482 Cr.P.C. and the sentences in Complaint Nos.19 and 20 of 2005 decided
on 07.09.2015 are hereby ordered to run concurrently.
In case the petitioner has already completed the term as per the orders passed today, he be released from custody forthwith on receipt of certified
copy of this order.
Copy of this order be given DASTI to the counsel for the petitioner under signatures of Bench Secretary of this Court.
