Bank manager's presence not mandatory in cheque bounce trial, authorised official can testify: J&K High Court

The Jammu & Kashmir High Court ruled that a bank manager's personal presence is not mandatory in cheque bounce trials under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Instead, any duly authorized bank official with access to relevant records can competently testify. The court reasoned that evidence in such cases is primarily based on official bank records, not personal knowledge of the manager. This decision streamlines the judicial process for cheque dishonor cases, reducing the burden on bank managers and expediting trials. It ensures that bank records can be effectively presented in court by knowledgeable representatives, without requiring the specific manager who signed the complaint to appear.