- 1 - NC: 2026:KHC:30767 CRL.P No. 4929 of 2019 HC-KAR IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAVI V HOSMANI CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 4929 OF 2019 BETWEEN: SRI. ASHWATHNARAYANA, S/O SUBBANNA, AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS, R/AT POST OFFICE ROAD, SRIRANGAPATTANA TOWN, MANDYA - 571 438. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SHRIDHARA K., ADVOCATE) AND: SRI. PANDURANGA, AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS, CHIEF MANAGER, INTERNAL AUDIT - EXAMINATION DIVISION, Digitally signed by KSFC BHAVANA, SHARADAVANI B 1/1, THIMMAAH ROAD, Location: High BENGALURU - 560 052. Court of Karnataka …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. H.K.SUBASH., ADVOCATE) THIS CRL.P. IS FILED U/S.482 OF CR.P.C PRAYING TO DIRECT TO THE LEARNED ADDITIONAL CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, SRIRANGAPATNA TO DISPOSE THE CASE IN C.C.NO.734/2017 FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 138 OF N.I ACT WITHIN A PERIOD OF 6 MONTHS. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 2 - NC: 2026:KHC:30767 CRL.P No. 4929 of 2019 HC-KAR CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAVI V HOSMANI ORAL ORDER Seeking for a direction to Additional Civil Judge and JMFC., Srirangapatna, to dispose of C.C.No.734/2017, filed for offences punishable under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act, (for short N.I. Act), within a period of six months, this petition is filed.

2. Sri K.Sridhar, learned counsel appearing for petitioner submitted that petitioner was complainant and alleging offence punishable under Section 138 of N.I. Act had filed private complaint against respondent(accused) registered as C.C.No.734/2017, on file of Additional Civil Judge and JMFC., Srirangapatna. In 2016, same came to be transferred to Court of Magistrate, Bengaluru and retransferred to Court of Additional Civil Judge and JMFC., Srirangapatna in 2016 and since then has been pending. 3. It is submitted that as per N.I. Act, proceedings were required to be concluded within six months. Non- - 3 - NC: 2026:KHC:30767 CRL.P No. 4929 of 2019 HC-KAR compliance has led complainant/petitioner to file this petition and prayed for allowing it. 4. Heard learned counsel appearing for parties. Perused material on record. 5. At outset, indeed as submitted, matter appears to be pending before Additional Civil Judge & JMFC., Srirangapatna, since 2016. Notice is served on respondent and he remains unrepresented. 6. Though material reveals complaint is pending before Magistrate Court, however, order sheet indicates that same is pending for want of execution of non-bailable warrant against accused. Therefore, trial Court cannot be blamed for pendency. Without pursuing matter before trial Court, filing of present petition and keeping this matter pending for 7 years cannot be appreciated. - 4 - NC: 2026:KHC:30767 CRL.P No. 4929 of 2019 HC-KAR

7. Petition under Section 482 of Cr.P.C., would be maintainable only in case petitioner seeks for one of grounds mentioned in Section 482 of Cr.P.C. None of three grounds are substantiated. Petition is devoid of merits and dismissed. However, dismissal of petition would not come in way of petitioner urging all contentions before trial Court seeking for early conclusion of proceedings. Sd/- (RAVI V HOSMANI) JUDGE PSJ List No.: 1 Sl No.: 30

- 1 - NC: 2026:KHC:30767 CRL.P No. 4929 of 2019 HC-KAR IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAVI V HOSMANI CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 4929 OF 2019 BETWEEN: SRI. ASHWATHNARAYANA, S/O SUBBANNA, AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS, R/AT POST OFFICE ROAD, SRIRANGAPATTANA TOWN, MANDYA - 571 438. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SHRIDHARA K., ADVOCATE) AND: SRI. PANDURANGA, AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS, CHIEF MANAGER, INTERNAL AUDIT - EXAMINATION DIVISION, Digitally signed by KSFC BHAVANA, SHARADAVANI B 1/1, THIMMAAH ROAD, Location: High BENGALURU - 560 052. Court of Karnataka …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. H.K.SUBASH., ADVOCATE) THIS CRL.P. IS FILED U/S.482 OF CR.P.C PRAYING TO DIRECT TO THE LEARNED ADDITIONAL CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, SRIRANGAPATNA TO DISPOSE THE CASE IN C.C.NO.734/2017 FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 138 OF N.I ACT WITHIN A PERIOD OF 6 MONTHS. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 2 - NC: 2026:KHC:30767 CRL.P No. 4929 of 2019 HC-KAR CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAVI V HOSMANI ORAL ORDER Seeking for a direction to Additional Civil Judge and JMFC., Srirangapatna, to dispose of C.C.No.734/2017, filed for offences punishable under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act, (for short N.I. Act), within a period of six months, this petition is filed.

2. Sri K.Sridhar, learned counsel appearing for petitioner submitted that petitioner was complainant and alleging offence punishable under Section 138 of N.I. Act had filed private complaint against respondent(accused) registered as C.C.No.734/2017, on file of Additional Civil Judge and JMFC., Srirangapatna. In 2016, same came to be transferred to Court of Magistrate, Bengaluru and retransferred to Court of Additional Civil Judge and JMFC., Srirangapatna in 2016 and since then has been pending. 3. It is submitted that as per N.I. Act, proceedings were required to be concluded within six months. Non- - 3 - NC: 2026:KHC:30767 CRL.P No. 4929 of 2019 HC-KAR compliance has led complainant/petitioner to file this petition and prayed for allowing it. 4. Heard learned counsel appearing for parties. Perused material on record. 5. At outset, indeed as submitted, matter appears to be pending before Additional Civil Judge & JMFC., Srirangapatna, since 2016. Notice is served on respondent and he remains unrepresented. 6. Though material reveals complaint is pending before Magistrate Court, however, order sheet indicates that same is pending for want of execution of non-bailable warrant against accused. Therefore, trial Court cannot be blamed for pendency. Without pursuing matter before trial Court, filing of present petition and keeping this matter pending for 7 years cannot be appreciated. - 4 - NC: 2026:KHC:30767 CRL.P No. 4929 of 2019 HC-KAR

7. Petition under Section 482 of Cr.P.C., would be maintainable only in case petitioner seeks for one of grounds mentioned in Section 482 of Cr.P.C. None of three grounds are substantiated. Petition is devoid of merits and dismissed. However, dismissal of petition would not come in way of petitioner urging all contentions before trial Court seeking for early conclusion of proceedings. Sd/- (RAVI V HOSMANI) JUDGE PSJ List No.: 1 Sl No.: 30