Cheque Bounce (NI Act)
A dishonoured cheque is not just a broken promise — under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act it is an offence with a clear, time-bound path to recovery. The catch is the timeline: miss a step and a strong claim can fail. We prosecute and defend Section 138 matters from statutory notice to trial, and keep the door to settlement open throughout.
What we do
- Statutory demand notice & complaint
- Section 138 prosecution
- Defence of accused parties
- Settlement and recovery
Common issues we resolve
- Missing the strict windows for notice and filing
- A cheque dishonoured for insufficient funds or a stop-payment
- Defending where the cheque was not issued for a legally enforceable debt
- Turning a conviction or settlement into actual payment
How the engagement works
- 1
Notice
On dishonour, we issue the statutory demand notice within the required window.
- 2
Complaint
If the amount is not paid, we file the complaint within the prescribed period and prosecute.
- 3
Trial or settlement
We press the matter to trial while keeping a negotiated recovery on the table.
Frequently asked questions
Very quickly. The statutory demand notice must be issued within 30 days of the dishonour, and the complaint filed within a defined window after that. Diarise the dates the moment a cheque bounces — the timeline is unforgiving.
Yes — the process is designed to secure payment, and courts can order compensation. In practice, a well-run Section 138 case often ends in a settlement that pays you.
Related services
Further reading
All insights →The Section 138 notice: the clock that decides whether your complaint survives
Cheque bounce cases fail on dates far more often than on merits. Four deadlines run back to back, and missing one ends the case.
Interim compensation under Section 143A: getting paid before the judgment
A cheque bounce trial can outlast the debt it is about. Section 143A exists so the complainant is not funding the delay.
Section 138 cheque bounce: the fast-track recovery playbook
From statutory notice to complaint to settlement — the sequence that turns a dishonoured cheque into an enforceable recovery.
Tell us about your matter.
Book a consultation and we will tell you plainly where you stand — and what it takes to resolve it.