Under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, in respect of dishonour of a cheque under Section 138, a…

Under Section 142(1)(a) and (b) of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, no court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under Section 138 except upon a complaint in writing made by the payee or the holder in due course of the cheque within one month (represented among the options as 30 days) of the date on which the cause of action arises under clause (c) of the proviso to Section 138. The cause of action under clause (c) of the proviso to Section 138 arises when the drawer of the cheque fails to make payment within 15 days of the receipt of the statutory demand notice. Under the proviso to Section 142(1)(b), cognizance of a complaint may be taken after the prescribed period if the complainant satisfies the court that he had sufficient cause for not making a complaint within such period.