Jammu, April 21 -- In a significant ruling on Section 143-A of the Negotiable Instruments Act, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed an order of the Special Mobile Magistrate, Pulwama, which had directed payment of 10 per cent interim compensation in a cheque dishonour case, holding that such power is discretionary and cannot be exercised in a routine or mechanical manner.
Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal passed the judgment in CRM(M) 185/2026, Nargees Javaid vs Ghulam Jeelani Nengroo, where the petitioner had challenged the trial court's order dated March 16, 2026 passed on an application under Section 143-A of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The complaint before the trial court had arisen out of multiple dishonoured cheques ...