Supreme Court Orders Release of Woman Penalised for Changing Lawyers in Cheque-Bounce Case

The Supreme Court ordered the release of a woman whose bail was cancelled by the appellate court after she changed her lawyer six times.

The case arises from a cheque-bounce conviction under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act involving two dishonoured cheques. Her appeal had been pending for eight years, and her sentence was already suspended, yet the sessions court cancelled her bail and took her into custody.

Calling the lower court’s insistence on her personal appearance and subsequent jailing “appalling” and “indefensible,” the Court said an amicus curiae or alternative arrangements should have been made.

It directed her release on a self-bond of ₹1 lakh and listed the matter again after three weeks.

[Meenakshi v. State of Haryana & Anr.]