In Brief
A petitioner facing cheque-bounce prosecution under the Negotiable Instruments Act was ordered to pay interim compensation under Section 143A. After failing to comply, the trial court cancelled his bail and issued arrest warrants. The Supreme Court held that no surrender is required before filing an SLP when the underlying order involves only recovery of compensation as fine under Section 421 Cr.PC, without any sentence of imprisonment. The Court clarified that the procedural requirement to surrender applies only when an actual term of imprisonment has been imposed. Accordingly, the application for exemption from surrendering was disposed of as unnecessary, and the SLP can proceed without a surrender certificate."
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