How to File a Cheque Bounce Case in Hyderabad: Court, Documents, Stages and Timeline

You have sent the legal notice, the fifteen days have passed, and no payment has come. This guide explains what filing a cheque bounce complaint in Hyderabad actually involves — what you need, where it goes, what happens at each stage, and how long it realistically takes.

Check the dates before filing. There is no fixed 60-day or 75-day total from the bank memo. Send the demand notice within 30 days of receiving the bank’s dishonour information. The drawer then has 15 days from service to pay; if unpaid, the complaint period is one month from the resulting cause of action. Refusal or return requires assessment of actual or deemed service and does not simply remove the 15-day payment period. Complaint delay may be condoned on sufficient cause; that is different from a late notice. The notice deadline checker covers only the notice stage.

What you need before you file

A complaint is only as strong as the documents behind it. Assemble these first:

• The original cheque — not a photocopy;
• The bank return memo showing the date and the reason for dishonour;
• A copy of the legal notice you sent;
• Proof of dispatch and delivery — the speed post receipt, tracking record and acknowledgement, or the returned envelope if it came back;
• Proof of the underlying debt — the invoice, loan document, agreement, ledger entry or message trail showing why the cheque was given. Cases are won and lost on this item;
• Your identity and address proof, and authorisation documents if you are filing for a company or firm.

Keep the returned envelope unopened and intact if the notice came back. It is evidence of attempted service, and opening it weakens its value.

Which court in Hyderabad

For a cheque collected through an account, Section 142(2)(a) generally places jurisdiction at the branch where the payee or holder in due course maintains that account. Depositing it at another branch does not by itself change this. For presentation otherwise than through an account, Section 142(2)(b) looks to the drawee-bank branch where the drawer maintains the account. Have the bank records and local court allocation checked before filing.

In practice, these matters are heard at:

• Nampally Court — Hyderabad Central
• Secunderabad Court
• Ranga Reddy courts — at LB Nagar, Medchal and Kukatpally

Confirm the competent magistrate and current court allocation against the bank records before filing.

Your case will be an “STC”

Cheque bounce complaints are ordinarily registered as STC — Summary Trial Case — under the Negotiable Instruments Act. That is the case type you will see on the cause list and the number you will use to track the matter. Note the STC number as soon as it is allotted; every later enquiry depends on it.

You can follow the case yourself on the eCourts services portal at services.ecourts.gov.in or through the eCourts mobile app using that number.

Stage by stage, what actually happens

1. Filing and the sworn statement

The complaint is presented with the documents and your affidavit. The court records the complainant’s sworn statement and decides whether to take cognizance of the offence. This is a hearing you should expect to attend.

2. Summons to the accused

If cognizance is taken, summons issue to the drawer. This is frequently where matters slow down: if the address is wrong or the accused avoids service, the court may have to order fresh summons or other modes of service. An accurate, current address for the drawer is worth more at this stage than any argument.

3. Appearance and bail

On appearance the accused is ordinarily released on bail in these matters. If the accused does not appear despite service, the court may take coercive steps.

4. Plea

The substance of the accusation is put to the accused, who pleads guilty or not guilty. A plea of guilty at this stage can end the matter quickly with compensation.

5. Complainant’s evidence

Under Section 145, evidence may be given on affidavit — a provision designed to keep these cases summary and which shortens proceedings considerably. Your chief examination goes in by affidavit, and you are then cross-examined by the defence.

6. Defence evidence and arguments

The accused leads any defence evidence, followed by final arguments on both sides.

7. Judgment

On conviction the court may award imprisonment up to two years, or a fine up to twice the cheque amount, or both, and commonly awards compensation to the complainant.

Interim compensation while the case runs

Under Section 143A the court may direct the accused to pay interim compensation of up to 20% of the cheque amount during the trial, before any finding of guilt. This is worth asking about early — it is one of the few mechanisms that puts money in a complainant’s hands before judgment.

If the accused is convicted and appeals, Section 148 allows the appellate court to require a deposit of at least 20% of the fine or compensation awarded.

Settlement, Lok Adalat, and how most cases really end

The offence is compoundable under Section 147, and courts encourage settlement at every stage. A very large share of cheque bounce matters end in a settlement rather than a judgment, and many are resolved through Lok Adalat, which is quicker and less expensive than continuing the trial.

This is not a weakness in your position. For a complainant, a settlement that actually pays is often better than a conviction that recovers nothing. Where payment is staggered, have the schedule and the consequence of default recorded before the court.

How long it takes, honestly

Section 138 cases are designed to be summary, and affidavit evidence speeds them up. Even so, expect one to three years in Hyderabad. We would rather say that than quote a comfortable figure.

What lengthens a case is rarely the law. It is the calendar: adjournments sought by counsel on either side, and periods when the presiding officer is on training or leave. What shortens it is complete documentation from the start, a correct address so summons are served first time, and a realistic approach to settlement.

What it costs

Fees vary with the cheque amount, the stage at which the matter resolves, and whether you are complainant or accused. There is one significant advantage over a civil recovery suit: a Section 138 complaint does not carry a heavy court fee calculated as a percentage of the amount claimed. Court fees and notice costs are modest relative to the sum in dispute.

Related guides and tools

• Cheque bounce cases in Hyderabad — the complete guide
• Cheque bounce notice deadline checker
• The notice: what it must contain
• 20 real cheque bounce situations answered
• If you received the notice instead

Sources for the time limits and court jurisdiction

• Supreme Court: C.C. Alavi Haji (2007), notice and deemed service
• Supreme Court: N. Harihara Krishnan (2017), complaint limitation under Section 142
• Supreme Court: Jai Balaji Industries (2025), Section 142(2) jurisdiction

Notice, limitation and jurisdiction guidance updated 13 September 2026. General information; have your own evidence and dates checked.

This guide is general legal information published for public awareness by Musab Hashmi & Associates, Advocates, Hyderabad. It is not legal advice, does not create an advocate–client relationship, and should not be acted upon without advice on your specific facts and dates.