Cheque Bounce Case: Govt mulling to change law, traders not happy with it

Cheque Bounce Case: The Government is mulling about making a change in the the Cheque bounce law by shifting it from the criminal offense list to the civil offense list. However, this Government plan hasn't gone down well among the traders. Zee Business is running a special initiative on Cheque Bounce cases and the programme has received a great response from its viewers.

As per the Zee Business TV report, the Ministry of Finance has given various proposals in which minor offenses would not be treated as a criminal offense and hence in such cases the offender need not to be sent behind bars. Cheque bounce case also figures in that list of minor offenses. Hence, if these proposals are accepted by the government, then cheque bounce cases will no longer remain a criminal offense and then, in a cheque dishounour case, the offender won't be sent behind the bars.

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The Government is of the opinion that cheque bounce cases should not be treated as a criminal offense because on most of the occasions, one's cheque gets dishounoured unknowingly. So, for cheque bounce cases of small amounts should not be treated as a criminal offense and hence sending the offender behind jails is very harsh and therefore, the law needs to be changed. In fact, it had asked for the public opinion in this regard till 23rd June and people have responded to that as well.

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However, traders are of the opinion that such change in the cheque bounce law will affect their business badly because their payment will get delayed as the entire payment system of the business will get derailed. They are of the opinion that people are paying through cheque are well aware that cheque bounce will lead them behind bars but once the norm gets changed, there can be deliberate cheque bounce from the business partner leading to delay in payment. They said that due to the stringent cheque bounce law, faith of payment through cheque will no longer remain in the business system.