Find a Lawyer · Cheque Bounce
How to Find a Cheque Bounce Lawyer in Prayagraj (2026)
A cheque bounce (dishonour of cheque) is both a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and, often, a money recovery problem. In Prayagraj, timing is everything: miss the notice window and your case can fail before it starts. This guide explains the Section 138 steps, where the case is heard, what a cheque bounce lawyer costs, and how to verify the advocate.
- Law: cheque bounce is a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.
- Clock: demand notice within 30 days of the bank memo; file within 30 days after the 15-day notice period.
- Where: heard by the court of the Judicial Magistrate in Prayagraj; appeal to the District and Sessions Court, Prayagraj (Sessions Court).
- Fee reality: notice Rs 1,500 to Rs 5,000; a full case Rs 15,000 to Rs 60,000 or more.
- Also consider: a civil money recovery suit, or a summary suit under Order 37, for the debt itself.
01When you need a cheque bounce lawyer
You may need a cheque bounce lawyer if a cheque given to you was returned unpaid, marked for example "funds insufficient" or "payment stopped". The law gives you a strong remedy, but it runs on a strict clock.
The Section 138 timeline you must not miss:
- The cheque is dishonoured and the bank gives a return memo.
- You must send a written demand notice to the person within 30 days of that memo, asking for payment.
- They get 15 days to pay.
- If they do not pay, you file the Section 138 complaint within the next 30 days before the magistrate.
Because of these deadlines, the demand notice must be drafted and sent correctly and on time. This is the single most common place where a cheque bounce case goes wrong, so getting a lawyer early matters.
02Where a cheque bounce case is heard in Prayagraj
A Section 138 dishonour of cheque complaint is a criminal complaint filed before the court of the Judicial Magistrate in Prayagraj (the Judicial Magistrate), usually where the bank branch that returned the cheque is located. A conviction can mean a fine up to twice the cheque amount, or imprisonment, or both, and the court can order payment of the cheque amount as compensation.
If the magistrate convicts or you want to challenge an order, the appeal lies to the District and Sessions Court, Prayagraj (the Sessions Court), and from there, in limited cases, to the Allahabad High Court at Prayagraj.
A Section 138 case is about punishment and getting your money, but it is not the only money recovery route. For the debt itself you can also file a civil recovery suit, or a summary suit under Order 37 of the Civil Procedure Code, which is faster for a clear money claim. A good lawyer will tell you whether to run the criminal complaint, the recovery suit, or both.
| Step | Forum in Prayagraj | Time limit |
|---|---|---|
| Demand notice after dishonour | Sent by your advocate | Within 30 days of the bank memo |
| Section 138 complaint | the court of the Judicial Magistrate in Prayagraj | Within 30 days after the 15-day notice period |
| Appeal against the order | the District and Sessions Court, Prayagraj (Sessions Court) | As the law allows |
| Civil money recovery (optional) | Civil court, Prayagraj | Within the limitation period |
03What a cheque bounce lawyer costs, and free options
Before you pay anyone, check whether you qualify for free help. These routes are real and often overlooked.
- NALSA and the State authority: the National Legal Services Authority and the Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority offer free legal aid to those who qualify, for example women, children, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe members, people with disabilities, and anyone below the income limit the State sets.
- the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Prayagraj, which sits in the district court complex: walk in or apply online for a free panel advocate and free legal advice. This is the first door to try if cost is a worry.
- Lok Adalat: for money claims, cheque matters and many civil disputes, a Lok Adalat can settle the case quickly, with no court fee and an award that is final. DLSA publishes the dates.
Cheque bounce matters are very common, so fees are competitive. Typical ranges in a city like Prayagraj, which vary by the cheque amount and how contested the case is, so confirm with the lawyer:
| Task | Typical professional fee range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Demand notice under Section 138 | Rs 1,500 to Rs 5,000 | Must be sent within 30 days of the memo |
| Filing the Section 138 complaint | Rs 8,000 to Rs 30,000 | Plus any court fee |
| Full case with appearances | Rs 15,000 to Rs 60,000 or more | Depends on hearings and cheque amount |
| Defending a Section 138 case | Rs 15,000 to Rs 60,000 or more | For the person who issued the cheque |
The single biggest mistake in a cheque bounce case is a late or wrong demand notice. Speak to a lawyer the week the cheque bounces, not the month after.
04How to find and verify a Prayagraj advocate
Anyone who appears for you in court must be an advocate enrolled with a State Bar Council under Section 24 and Section 29 of the Advocates Act, 1961. Only an enrolled advocate holding a valid certificate of practice is entitled to practise law under Section 33 of that Act. A "listed" name on a directory is not the same as a "verified" one, and "verified" is not the same as "entitled to practise". Check all three.
Practical checks before you pay a rupee:
- Enrolment number: ask for the advocate's Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh enrolment number and year. The Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh is itself based in Prayagraj.
- Verify the roll: the certificate and verification drive run by the Bar Council of India (the all-India roll and the exercise to weed out fake degrees) is the backstop. A genuine advocate will not mind you checking.
- Area fit: a general practitioner is not the same as someone who runs this kind of matter every week. Ask how many similar matters they have handled in Prayagraj.
- Fee in writing: get the professional fee, what it covers, and the court or government fees (which are separate) in writing before you start.
For more on this, see whether you can pay lawyer fees in installments.
Listed vs verified vs entitled
A profile being "listed" on a website only means someone typed in a name. "Verified" should mean the enrolment was checked. "Entitled to practise" means the advocate currently holds a valid certificate of practice. Always confirm the last one.
05How Claw helps you find the right lawyer
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
That same legal-technology base is what powers Claw Find a Lawyer, a separate service for the public. Claw connects you with a verified, independent advocate who handles your kind of matter, in your state and city where possible. You describe your issue in a short guided chat, and Claw matches you to a relevant advocate who can do an online or in-person consultation.
Two ways to start: a free basic request, or a Rs 99 priority request for faster, prioritised matching. The advocate's professional fee for your case is paid directly to that advocate. Claw is a technology platform that helps you find and reach the right lawyer; it does not hire, employ or empanel advocates, it is not a law firm, it is not your advocate, and it does not give legal advice. Under Bar Council of India Rule 36, Claw does not share in the advocate's fee.
Claw Find a Lawyer explains how matching works. If you want to understand how legal teams keep track of court matters, see how litigation history is checked.
06Frequently asked questions
What is the time limit for a cheque bounce case?
You must send a written demand notice within 30 days of the bank's return memo. The person then has 15 days to pay. If they do not, you file the Section 138 complaint within the next 30 days. Missing the notice window is the most common reason a dishonour of cheque case fails, so act quickly.
Which court hears a cheque bounce case in Prayagraj?
A Section 138 complaint is filed before the court of the Judicial Magistrate in Prayagraj, usually where the bank branch that returned the cheque is located. An appeal against the order goes to the District and Sessions Court, Prayagraj, the Sessions Court.
How much does a cheque bounce lawyer charge?
Typical ranges are Rs 1,500 to Rs 5,000 for the demand notice, Rs 8,000 to Rs 30,000 to file the complaint, and Rs 15,000 to Rs 60,000 or more for the full case. Fees vary by the cheque amount, the city and the lawyer's seniority, so confirm in writing.
Can I recover my money as well as file a criminal case?
Yes. A Section 138 case can lead to compensation of the cheque amount, and you can separately file a civil money recovery suit, or a faster summary suit under Order 37 of the Civil Procedure Code, for the debt. A lawyer can advise whether to run one or both.
How do I verify a cheque bounce lawyer is genuine?
Ask for the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh enrolment number and confirm the advocate currently holds a certificate of practice under the Advocates Act, 1961. A name listed on a website is not proof. Verified and entitled to practise are different things, so check both.