Kanoonwale Bhaiya | Legal Awareness by Advocate Prabal Bhandari

A cheque given to repay a loan or pay a bill comes back from the bank marked "insufficient funds" or "payment stopped". The next question is nearly always the same: what can the person who received it actually do? This article explains, for readers anywhere in India, how a cheque bounce complaint works under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. It is a central law, so the basic steps are the same in every state. It is not one of the laws replaced in 2024, so the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita does not change these steps. Why a bounced cheque can become a criminal case Section 138 of the Act treats the return of a cheque unpaid, for lack of funds or because it exceeds the arrangement with the bank, as an offence by the person who drew it. The cheque must have been given to repay a legally enforceable debt or liability. The punishment can be imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of up to twice the cheque amount, or both. In practice, most cases end in settlement a...

Many people ask the same worried question: if a husband stops supporting his wife, or grown children neglect elderly parents, can a court order monthly maintenance? In many situations the answer is yes. The main criminal-court remedy is Section 144 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), which replaced Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure from 1 July 2024. This article explains that remedy in plain terms. It is a central law and applies across religions. Other remedies under personal laws and the Domestic Violence Act exist but are not covered here. Who can claim under Section 144 BNSS A first-class Magistrate can order a person who has enough means, but neglects or refuses to maintain certain dependants, to pay a monthly allowance. The dependants listed are a wife who cannot maintain herself, a child (legitimate or illegitimate, married or not) who cannot maintain itself, an adult child with a physical or mental abnormality or injury, and a father or m...

HOW TO WIN A CHEQUE BOUNCE CASE IN LUDHIANA A Complete Guide to Section 138 NI Act | Criminal & Civil Recovery By Advocate Prabal Bhandari | Kanoonwale Bhaiya INTRODUCTION: CHEQUE BOUNCE CASES IN LUDHIANA A cheque bounce is one of the most common financial disputes in India. Whether you're a business owner, creditor, or individual, receiving a bounced cheque is frustrating—and leaving it unaddressed is even more costly. In Ludhiana, cheque bounce cases are handled by criminal courts under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments (NI) Act, 1881, making it essential to understand how to navigate the legal process effectively. With 15+ years of legal practice in Punjab and 100+ cheque bounce cases won, I'll walk you through the exact steps to win your case—whether you're seeking criminal conviction or civil recovery. WHAT IS A CHEQUE BOUNCE? (AND WHY IT MATTERS) A cheque bounce occurs when a bank returns a cheque unpaid due to insufficient funds, account closure, ...

As the dust settles on the massive National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak controversy , millions of students across India are asking the exact same question: "Where do we go from here?" For an aspiring doctor, NEET isn't just an exam; it’s an emotional and financial investment. When systems fail, the legal rights of students must step in to protect their future. As Kanoonwale Bhaiya , let’s look past the chaotic headlines and break down the absolute reality of why this happened, and what legal pathways students can actually utilize today. 🔍 The Reality Check: Why Did This Happen? A failure of this scale doesn't happen overnight. Looking at institutional breakdowns, the crisis highlights three distinct vulnerabilities: The Logistical Bottleneck: Securing examination papers across thousands of centers simultaneously requires absolute, unbreachable local custody. Intermediary lapses at transport lines or local storage points create systemic gaps. The...

Introduction India's employment landscape has just witnessed its biggest transformation in over 70 years. Following the landmark notification of the final central rules by the Union Government on May 8, 2026 , the four massive New Labour Codes are now fully operationalized. Consolidating 29 complex, overlapping historical laws into four streamlined codes (Wages, Social Security, Industrial Relations, and Occupational Safety), this reform changes the fundamental rules of working in India. Whether you are a salaried professional wondering why your payslip is changing, or a business owner trying to restructure payroll, here are the 5 massive updates you cannot afford to ignore. 1. The 50% Wage Rule: Why Your Take-Home Pay Might Change The single biggest talking point of the New Labour Codes is the structural shift in how your salary is calculated. Under the new Code on Wages , your "Wages" (which primarily include Basic Pay + Dearness Allowance) must constitute at l...

Janaki” and Judicial Wisdom: A Constitutional Lens on Artistic Freedom and CBFC's Role By Advocate Prabal Bhandari www.prabalbhandari.com   In a moment that resonates with constitutional clarity and judicial maturity, the Kerala High Court reminded the nation this week that art is not to be shackled by arbitrary gatekeeping , especially not when the freedom of expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) is at stake. The matter in question arose from a legal challenge filed by M/s Cosmos Entertainments , the production house behind the upcoming Malayalam film “ JSK: Janaki v State of Kerala ” , starring Union Minister Suresh Gopi . The controversy? The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) allegedly raised informal objections to the use of the name “Janaki” —claiming it refers to Goddess Sita and could, therefore, hurt religious sentiments. This objection, as presented by the Deputy Solicitor General of India , was purportedly based on the CBFC's interpretation of...