(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, Oct 1 (KNN) The Supreme Court has introduced fresh measures to fast-track the disposal of cheque bounce cases, which account for a significant share of pending matters in courts.

In some states, such cases make up nearly 50% of the total pendency, prompting urgent judicial intervention.

According to the new guidelines, summons can now be served electronically through WhatsApp and email, reducing delays caused by traditional methods.

Additionally, the use of QR codes and UPI links has been recommended to simplify settlements, making the process faster and more transparent.

A bench of Justices Manmohan and N. V. Anjaria highlighted the alarming backlog, noting that there were around 43 lakh pending cheque bounce cases across India as of December.

Rajasthan recorded the highest number, with over 6.4 lakh cases, followed by Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The scale of pendency in metropolitan areas is particularly concerning. As of September 1, Delhi alone had 6,50,283 pending cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. Mumbai followed with 1,17,190 cases, while Calcutta had 2,65,985 cases awaiting resolution.

To streamline the process, the Supreme Court directed that summons may be served“dasti” (directly) by complainants as well as through digital platforms. Complainants will also be required to provide the contact details of the accused to facilitate timely communication.

Furthermore, district courts across the country have been instructed to set up online payment facilities, enabling accused parties to settle disputes at an early stage without prolonged litigation.

With these reforms, the judiciary aims to reduce the burden on courts and provide quicker relief to complainants, ensuring that justice in cheque bounce cases is not delayed due to procedural hurdles.

(KNN Bureau)

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