I am pleased to share my recently published article on cheque bounce cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, which has also been featured in the leading English daily The Freedom Press.
The article examines the growing legal and judicial significance of Section 138 cases, which currently account for more than 4.3 million pending matters across India. It highlights the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in Gian Chand Garg v. Harpal Singh & Anr. (11 August 2025), a ruling that has brought about a major shift in the way cheque dishonour cases are handled. The Court has clarified that once parties reach a genuine settlement, even ongoing criminal proceedings can be treated as civil disputes and closed accordingly.
This legal development is expected to have a transformative impact on India’s justice system by reducing court pendency, encouraging faster settlements, and bringing commercial disputes back within a civil framework. The article analyses the implications of this judgment for litigants, lawyers, courts, and policymakers.
I invite you to read the full article and explore how this important judgment could reshape the future of cheque bounce litigation in India.
