Courts Must Enforce 20% Fine Payment for Cheque Dishonor Appeals, Interpreting 'May' as 'Shall' u/s 148.

Dishonor of cheque - quantum of deposit of fine - scope of the word ‘may’ - A purposive interpretation of section 148 of the Act is necessary and the same would warrant that the expression ‘may’ as contained in section 148 of the Act be read as ‘shall’. Read this way, the provision would mean that the Court ‘shall’ order the convict to pay minimum of 20% amount of fine in an appeal against conviction under section 138 of the Act and resultantly, the plight of the drawee would be eased (as intended by the legislature while enacting section 148 of the Act) which otherwise would have been aggravated due to prolonged judicial proceedings. - HC .....

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