The Lok Sabha today passed the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2017 which has the provision of allowing a court trying an offence related to cheque bouncing, to direct the drawer to pay interim compensation to the complainant.

Replying to a debate on the bill, Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla said, 16 lakh cheque bouncing cases are lying in the subordinate courts and 35 thousand cases are in the higher judiciary.

He said, the interim compensation may be paid under certain circumstances, including where the drawer pleads not guilty of the accusation.

He said, the interim compensation will not exceed 20 per cent of the cheque amount and will have to be paid by the drawerwithin 60 days of the trial court’s order to pay such a compensation.