Cheque Bounce Case Cost in Delhi: A Practical Breakdown

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By Advocate Shubham Mehta · Updated 23 October 2026 · 8 min read

The cheque bounce case cost in Delhi has four parts: the legal notice, court stamps and filing charges, the advocate’s fee, and the time the case takes. Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 does not fix a lawyer’s fee, and the cost rises with every extra hearing. A well-prepared notice and complaint keep the cost down, and the court can award the payee compensation if the case succeeds.

Where the money goes in a Section 138 case

The cheque amount, interest and any fine are separate from these costs. For the full procedure and deadlines, read our guide to the cheque bounce case procedure in Delhi.

Section 138 numbers at a glance:

Cost of the legal notice

The notice is the first and cheapest step, and the most important. It must go within 30 days of receiving the bank’s return memo, and the drawer then has 15 days to pay. The cost is the advocate’s drafting fee plus postage. Send it by a method that gives proof of delivery, such as registered post with acknowledgment due or speed post, and keep the tracking record and receipts. A wrongly addressed or late notice can cost you the entire case, so do not economise here. Our cheque bounce notice format guide shows what the notice should contain.

Court stamps and filing costs

If the drawer does not pay within 15 days of the notice, you can file a complaint before the Magistrate within one month after those 15 days end. Under Section 142(2), the complaint is filed in the court that has jurisdiction over the payee’s bank branch where the cheque was presented. Filing costs include court stamps, the welfare stamp on the vakalatnama (₹25 in Delhi after the 2019 amendment), the complainant’s affidavit, and copies of the cheque, return memo, notice and postal proof.

Unlike a civil recovery suit, the court fee on a complaint is not a percentage of the cheque amount. Confirm the exact stamp payable with the court registry when you file.

Lawyer fee models

No statute or court rule fixes the fee. Advocates usually structure it in one of three ways:

• Fixed fee per stage. Separate amounts for the notice, the complaint, evidence and final arguments.
• Appearance-wise fee. A base fee plus a charge for each date. This can grow if the case is adjourned often.
• Package fee. A single amount for the case up to the trial court’s order, usually excluding appeals.

Under the Bar Council of India Rules, an advocate cannot stipulate a fee contingent on the result of the case. Be wary of any offer to “charge only if the cheque amount is recovered”. Ask for the scope in writing: how many appearances are covered, whether settlement talks are included, and whether an appeal is extra. See our guide on lawyer fees in Delhi for how fee structures work across case types.

What you can recover

A successful Section 138 case can bring back more than the cheque amount, but recovery is up to the court.

• Fine and compensation. The offence carries imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of up to twice the cheque amount, or both. The court can direct that compensation be paid to the complainant out of the fine under Section 357 CrPC (now Section 395 BNSS).
• Interim compensation. Under Section 143A, the court may direct the accused to pay up to 20% of the cheque amount while the case is pending, usually within 60 days of the order, which the court can extend by 30 days. In March 2024, the Supreme Court held that this power is discretionary, so the court must consider the prima facie case and the accused’s circumstances (Rakesh Ranjan Shrivastava v. State of Jharkhand, decided on 15 March 2024).
• Appeal deposit. If the accused appeals a conviction, Section 148 allows the appellate court to order a deposit of at least 20% of the fine or compensation.

Actual lawyer fees are not automatically recoverable. Treat compensation as a possible partial offset, not a certainty.

Time as a cost

Section 143 treats these cases as summary trials and expects the court to try to conclude them within six months. In practice, summons, service on the accused and adjournments make cases run much longer, and appearance-based fees rise with each date. The offence is compoundable under Section 147, so the parties can settle at any stage. A reasonable settlement early in the case often costs less than a long trial.

If you are the accused

The accused also bears costs: the advocate’s fee for defence, attendance on every date, any interim compensation ordered under Section 143A, and the deposit required to pursue an appeal. Paying the cheque amount with interest and costs can end the case on settlement. Our guide on how to defend a cheque bounce case in Delhi explains the available defences and when settlement makes sense.

How to keep costs down

• Send a correct notice on time, to the right address, with proof of delivery.
• Collect the cheque, return memo, notice, postal proof and the underlying agreement or ledger before approaching a lawyer.
• Check the deadlines with our cheque bounce calculator.
• Agree the fee scope in writing and ask for a receipt for each payment.
• Consider settlement or mediation once the drawer engages.

How a cheque bounce lawyer helps

A cheque bounce lawyer in Delhi drafts the notice, checks the deadlines, files the complaint in the right court and appears on each date. You can also read this topic in Hindi in our guide on चेक बाउंस केस और धारा 138.

For advice specific to your situation, you may consult a qualified advocate.

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

The cheque bounce case cost in Delhi depends on a correct notice, the number of hearings and the fee model you agree with your advocate. Fix the scope in writing, protect the deadlines and weigh a settlement against a long trial.

Related guides and services

• Cheque Bounce Lawyer in Delhi
• Money Recovery Lawyer in Delhi
• Criminal Lawyers in Delhi
• Cheque bounce case procedure in Delhi
• Cheque bounce notice format

Written and reviewed by Advocate Shubham Mehta
Advocate, Bar Council of Delhi (Enrl. No. D/6398/2021), and head of SRLM Law Associates. He practises before Rohini Courts, other Delhi District Courts, Family Courts, consumer commissions and the Delhi High Court. More about the firm