JIGL-18-Chapter-Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
JIGL-18-Chapter-Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
JIGL-18-Chapter-Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
This document specifies payment to a specific person or the bearer of the instrument at a specificdate.
• Act does not define ‘Negotiable instruments’ however section 13 provides for 3 kinds of
negotiable instrument viz. promissory note, bills of exchange and cheque.
a) Consideration – It shall be presumed that every negotiable instrument was made or drawn for
consideration, andthat every such instrument when it was accepted, indorsed, negotiated or
transferred, was accepted, indorsed, negotiated or transferred for consideration.
b) Date – It shall be presumed that every negotiable instrument bearing a date was made or drawn on
suchdate.
c) Time of acceptance – It shall be presumed that every accepted bill of exchange was accepted within a
reasonable timeafter its date and before its maturity.
d) Transfer – It shall be presumed that every transfer of the negotiable instrument was made before its
maturity.
e) Order of Indorsement – It shall be presumed that the indorsements were made in the order in which
they appear thereon.
f) Stamp – It shall be presumed that an instrument is duly signed and stamped.
NOTE : The above presumptions are rebuttable (defended ) by evidence to the contrary.
Meaning– A Promissory Note is a legal financial instrument issued by one party, promising to paythe debt owed to
another party
Definition – “A Promissory note is an instrument in writing containing an unconditional undertaking, signed by the
maker, to pay a certain sum of money only to, or to theorder of, a certain person, or to the bearer of the
instrument”.
Definition – “A bill of exchange is an instrument in writing containing an unconditional order,signed by the maker,
directing a certain person to pay a certain sum of money only to, or to the order of, a certain person or to the
bearer of the instrument”.
• Every Bill of Exchange must be stamped according to the provisions of The Indian Stamp Act, 1899.
• It should specifically mention the date and place the payment or the place where it is drawn.
• Order to pay. Order is this section does not mean a command, but a request or direction.
• The time of payment must be indicated in the bill with certainty.
• The amount payable must be certain.
• The consideration of a bill of exchange should be paid only by way of money only.
Other important points –
• A bill of Exchange must be drawn unconditionally, though the acceptor, or the endorser may make his liability
conditional, direction of payment by the drawer must not be made to depend upon a contingency. Therefore,
it is the essence of a bill of exchange that it should be payable at all events and it must appear so on its face
• It is essential that a bill of exchange should point out with certainty the party who enters into the contract
imported by its terms. Thus, the signature of the drawee is necessary and there cannot be a bill, even if the
instrument if accepted without the signature of the drawee
• It must indicate a drawee who should be called on to accept or pay it. The drawee must be named or otherwise
indicated in the bill with reasonable certainty.
Types of Bills –
1) Inland Bills –
a) Two essential conditions to make an inland instrument are:
(1) the instrument must have been drawn or made in India; and
(2) the instrument must be payable in India or the drawee must be in India.
2) Foreign Bills –
All bills which are not inland are deemed to be foreign bills. Normally foreign bills are
drawn insets of three copies.
3) Trade Bills –
A bill drawn and accepted for a genuine trade transaction is termed as a trade bill.
When atrader sells goods on credit, he may make use of a bill of exchange.
4) Accommodation Bill –
a) An accommodation bill is a bill in which a person lends or gives his name to oblige a friendor some
person whom he knows.
b) In other words, a bill which is drawn, accepted or endorsed without consideration is calledan
accommodation bill.
c) The party lending his name to oblige the other party is known as the accommodating or
accommodation party, and the party so obliged is called the party accommodated.
d) An accommodation party is not liable on the instrument to the party accommodated because as
between them there was no consideration and the instrument was only forhelp.
e) But the accommodation party is liable to a holder for value, who takes the accommodation bill for
value, though such holder may not be a holder in due course.
1. Trade bills are drawn and accepted for 1. These bills are drawn and accepted without
same consideration. any consideration.
2. These bills are legally enforceable. 2. These bills are not legally enforceable.
3. Trade bills are the acknowledgment of the 3. Accommodation bills are not the
debt. acknowledgment of debt.
4. The drawer can sue if bill is dishonored. 4. Drawer cannot sue if bill is dishonored.
5) Bills in Sets –
a) Foreign bills are usually drawn in sets to avoid the danger of loss.
b) They are drawn in sets of three, each of which is called “Via” and as soon as any one ofthem is paid,
the others become inoperative.
c) All these parts form one bill and the drawer must sign and deliver all of them to the payee.
d) The stamp is affixed only on one part and one part is required to be accepted.
e) But if the drawer mistakenly accepts all the parts of the same bill, he will be liable on eachpart
accepted as if it were a separate bill.
Bank Draft –
When a bill of exchange drawn by one bank on another bank, or by itself on its own branch, and is a
negotiable instrument then it is called as bank draft.
Cheque – Section 6
Meaning –
Cheque refers to a negotiable instrument that contains an unconditional order to the bank to pay a certain sum
mentioned in the instrument, from the drawer’s account, to the person to whom it is issued, or to the order of
the specified person or the bearer. Italso includes truncated cheque and cheque in electronic form.
Definition –
“A cheque is a bill of exchange drawn upon a specified banker and payable on demandand it includes the electronic
image of a truncated cheque and a cheque in the electronic form”.
Note –
A cheque is a species of a bill of exchange; but it has the following two additional qualifications:
1. It is always drawn on a specified banker, and
2. It is always payable on demand.
Holder – Section 8
1) The "holder" of a promissory note, bill of exchange or cheque means any person entitled in his own
name –
a) to the possession thereof; and
b) to receive or recover the amount due thereon from the parties thereto.
2) His rights and title are dependent on the transferor.
3) He has a right to demand and receive but doesnot have a right to sue.
Note –
• It is not every person in possession of the instrument who is called a holder.
• To be a holder, the person must be named in the instrument as the payee, or the endorsee, or he
must be the bearer thereof.
• A person who has obtained possession of an instrument by theft, or under a forged endorsement, is
not a holder, as he is not entitled to recover the instrument
• An agent holding an instrument for his principal is not a holder although he may receive its
payment.
Holder in Due Course – Section 9
A holder in due course is one who receives the instrument:
a) for consideration;
b) without notice as to the defect in the title of the transferor; i.e. in good faith; and
c) before maturity.
Note –
a) His rights and title are independent on the transferor.
b) He has a right to demand and receive and also have a right to sue.
B) Order Instruments –
a) They are payable when the instruments expressly state them to be so.
b) They may be payable to order only to a specific person.
c) There should be no prohibition on their transferability.
C) Inland Instruments – Sec 11
a) An inland instrument is one which is either:
1) drawn and made payable in India, or
2) drawn in India upon some persons resident , even though it is made payable in a
foreign country
D) Foreign Instruments
a) Every instrument that is not inland automatically becomes a foreign instrument.
b) These instruments are drawn in a foreign country but may be payable within or outside India.
c) it must be drawn in India and made payable outside India and drawn on a person
resident outside India.
E) Demand Instruments – Sec 19
a) Negotiable instruments in which no time is mentioned is called as demand instruments.
F) Time Instruments –
a) Time instruments carry a fixed future date for payment.
b) Time instruments are payable at a fixed date in the future.
G) Ambiguous Instruments –Sec 17
a) An ambiguous instrument is basically one that may be either a bill or a note for its holder.
b) Under such circumstances, the holder of such instruments may treat them either as bills of
exchange or as promissory notes.
c) For example, sometimes the drawee may be a fic-titi-ous(imaginary) person or he may be
incompetent tocontract.
H) Incomplete instruments or Inchoate– Sec 20
a) Incomplete instruments lack certain essential requirements of typical negotiable instruments.
b) In such cases, the holder of the instrument has the authority to complete it up to the amount
mentioned therein.
c) This, in turn, results in the creation of legally binding negotiable instrument payable by law.
d) Not only the first holder but also any subsequent holder who procures such instruments can
complete them.
When the amount stated in words and figures are different – Section 18
If the amount undertaken or ordered to be paid is stated differently in figures and in words, the amount
stated in words shall be the amount undertaken or ordered to be paid.
Note –
1) No grace period is allowed in the following cases –
▪ A cheque
▪ A bill or note payable ‘at sight’ or ‘on presentment’ or ‘on demand’, in which no time ismentioned
2) Where the instrument is payable on installment then each installment is entitled for 3 days grace
period.
• Where a negotiable instrument is payable on a stated number of days after date or after
sight or after happening of certain event then it shall become payable on –
✓ The date on which the negotiable instrument is drawn + 3 days of grace.
✓ The date on which negotiable instrument is presented for sight + 3 days ofgrace.
✓ The date on which the event happens + 3 days of grace.
• Where a negotiable instrument is payable on a stated number of months after date or
after sight or after happening of certain event then it shall become payable on –
✓ The corresponding day of relevant month (The date on which the negotiable
instrument is drawn) + 3 days of grace.
✓ The corresponding day of relevant month (The date on which negotiable
instrument is presented for sight) + 3 days of grace.
✓ The corresponding day of relevant month (The date on which the event
happens) + 3 days of grace.
Examples –
1. A negotiable instrument dated 31st January, 2020, is made payable at one months after
date. The instrument is at maturity on the third day after the 28th February, 2020, i.e. on 3rd
March, 2020.
2. A negotiable instrument dated 30th August, 2020, is made payable three months after date.
The instrument is at maturity on 3rd December, 2020.
3. A negotiable instrument dated the 31st August, 2020, is made payable three months after
date. The instrument is at maturity on 3rd December, 2020.
• If the last day of grace is a public holiday, then the instrument will be due on preceding
business day – Section 25
• If the day of maturity is an emergency or unforeseen holiday, then the maturity day will
be the following business day.
C) Negotiation Back
1) Where an endorser negotiates an instrument and again becomes its holder, the instrument is
said to be negotiated back to that endorser and none of the intermediary endorsees are then
liable to him.
Example –
Raju, the holder of a bill endorses it to Shyam, Shyam endorses to Babu Bhai, and Babu Bhaito
Anuradha, and endorses it again to Raju. Raju, being a holder in due course of the bill by
second endorsement by Anuradha, can recover the amount thereof from Shyam, Babu Bhai,or
Anuradha and himself being a prior party is liable to all of them. Therefore, Raju having been
relegated by the second endorsement to his original position, cannot sue Shyam, BabuBhai and
Anuradha.
2) Where an endorser so excludes his liability and afterwards becomes the holder of the
instrument, all the intermediate endorsers are liable to him.
Example –
An illustration will make the point clear. Raju is the payee of a negotiable instrument. He
endorses the instrument ‘sans recourse’ to Shyam, Shyam endorses to Babu Bhai, Babu Bhaito
Anuradha, and Anuradha again endorses it to Raju. In this case, Raju is not only reinstated in his
former rights but has the right of an endorsee against Shyam, Babu Bhai and Anuradha.
Delivery – Section 46
The making, acceptance or indorsement of a promissory note, bill of exchange or cheque is completed
by delivery which may be actual or constructive.
What is Endorsement –
A) Meaning of Endorsement –
a) Endorsement means signing at the back of the instrument for the purpose of negotiation.
b) The act of the signing a cheque, for the purpose of transferring to the someone else, is
called the endorsement of Cheque.
c) If no space is left on the instrument then the Endorsement may be made on a separate
slip to be attached to the instrument.
B) Definition of Endorsement –
When the maker or holder of a negotiable instrument signs the same, otherwise than as such
maker, for the purpose of negotiation on the back or face thereof or on a slip of paper annexed
(attached) thereto, or so signs for the same purpose a stamped paper intended to be completed
as a negotiable instrument, he is said to endorse the same, and is called the “endorser”.
C) Kinds of Endorsement –
(a) Endorsement in Blank / General –
An endorsement is said to be blank or general when the endorser puts his signature only onthe
instrument and does not write the name of anyone to whom or to whose order the payment is
to be made.
b) Bill of exchange should be presented within a reasonable time, on business day and during business
hours to the drawee for acceptance.
c) Following bills must be presented for acceptance –
1) A bill payable after sight – Presentment is necessary in order to fix maturity of the bills
2) Express condition – A bill in which there is an express condition shall be presented for acceptance
before it is presented for payment.
d) In case it is not presented for acceptance the bill is dishonored due to non-acceptance and no party is
liable.
B) Bills of exchange should be presented to whom for acceptance?
The following are the persons to whom a bill of exchange should be presented –
a) The drawee or his agent
b) If there are many drawees, bill must be presented to all of them.
c) The legal representatives of the drawee if drawee is dead.
d) The official receiver or assignee of insolvent drawee.
e) To a drawee in case of need, if there is any
f) The acceptor for honor.
C) Drawee’s time for deliberation –
Holder of the bills of exchange should allow 48 hours to the drawee for accepting the bill of
exchange.
D) Presentment for payment –
a) Promissory notes, bill of exchange and cheques must be presented for payment to the maker, acceptor or
drawee thereof respectively, by or on behalf of the holder as hereinafterprovided.
b) In default of such presentment, the other parties thereto are not liable thereon to suchholder.
E) Hours for presentment – Presentment for payment must be made during the usual hours of business
and, if at a banker’s,within banking hours.
2) Dishonor by Non-payment
A promissory note, bill of exchange or cheque is said to be dishonored by non-payment when the maker of the
note, acceptor of the bill or drawee of the cheque makes default in payment
Noting – Section 99
• When a promissory note or bill of exchange has been dishonored by non-acceptance or non-
payment, the holder may cause such dishonor to be noted by a notary public upon theinstrument, or upon a
paper attached thereto, or partly upon each.
• Such note must be made within a reasonable time after dishonor, and must specify the date ofdishonor, the
reason, if any, assigned for such dishonor, or, if the instrument has not been expressly dishonored, the reason
why the holder treats it as dishonored, and the notary’s charges.
Protest – Section 100
When a promissory note or bill of exchange has been dishonored by non-acceptance or non-payment,
the holder may, within a reasonable time, cause such dishonor to be noted and certified by a notarypublic. Such
certificate is called a protest.
Protest for better security. When the acceptor of a bill of exchange has become insolvent, or his credit has been
publicly impeached, before the maturity of the bill, the holder may, within a reasonable time, cause a notary
public to demand better security of the acceptor, and on its being refused may, within areasonable time, cause
such facts to be noted and certified as aforesaid. Such certificate is called a protest for better security.
Protest of foreign bills – Section 104
Foreign bills of exchange must be protested for dishonor when such protest is required by the law of the
place where they are drawn.
Crossing a cheque
▪ Crossing a cheque refers to drawing two parallel transverse lines on the cheque on the corner of the
cheque.
▪ By crossing the cheque the drawer instruct the banker to not to pay it over the counter but only
credit to the account of the person named therein.
▪ It means the banker should pay the money only through banker.
▪ It adds to the security and thus ensures payment to the payee or to his order
▪ The crossing of cheque had developed gradually as a means of protection against misusing of
cheques.
▪ Payment is made to payee’s banker only, and not directly to the person presenting it at the counter.
This ensures that payment is made to the actual payee.
D) Kinds of crossing –
1) General crossing – Section 123
Meaning –
• Two parallel transverse lines are drawn on the face of the cheque, generally, on the top left corner of the
cheque
• Holder or payee cannot get the payment at the counter but through the bank only
• Including the name of the banker is not essential, hence, the amount can be en-cashed byany banker
• The words, “& Company”, “Not Negotiable”, “A/C. Payee” may or may not be written
• It can be converted into Special Crossing.
In the following cases the banker may refuse to pay a customer’s cheque:
a) When the cheque is post-dated.
b) When the banker has no sufficient funds of the drawer with him and there is no communication between the
bank and the customer to honor the cheque.
c) When the cheque is of doubtful legality.
d) When the cheque is not duly presented, e.g., it is presented after banking hours
e) When the cheque on the face of it is irregular, ambiguous or otherwise materially altered.
f) When the cheque is presented at a branch where the customer has no account.
g) When some persons have joint account and the cheque is not signed jointly by all or by thesurvivors of them.
h) When the cheque has been allowed to become stale, i.e., it has not been presented within 3months of the
date mentioned on it.
In the following cases the banker must refuse to honor cheques issued by the customer –
a) When a customer countermands payment i.e., where or when a customer, after issuing
acheque issues instruction not to honor it, the banker must not pay it.
b) When the banker receives notice of customer’s death.
c) When customer has been adjudged an insolvent.
d) When the banker receives notice of customer’s insanity.
e) When an order of the Court, prohibits payment.
f) When the customer has given notice of assignment of the credit balance of his account.
g) When the holder’s title is defective and the banker comes to know of it.
h) When the customer has given notice for closing his account.
• Where a cheque payable to order purports to be endorsed by or on behalf of the payee, the
drawee is discharged by payment in due course.
• Where a cheque is originally expressed to be payable to bearer, the drawee is discharged by payment in
due course to the bearer thereof, notwithstanding any endorsement whether in fullor in blank appearing,
thereon, and notwithstanding that any such endorsement purports to restrict or exclude further negotiation.
• Payment of cheque crossed generally – Where a cheque is crossed generally, the banker onwhom it is drawn
shall not pay it otherwise than to a banker.
• Payment of cheque crossed specially - Where a cheque is crossed generally, the banker onwhom it is drawn
shall not pay it otherwise than to the banker to whom it is crossed, or hisagent for collection.
• Payment in due course of crossed cheque –
Where the banker on whom a crossed cheque is drawn has paid the same in due course, the banker paying
the cheque, and (in case such cheque has come to the hands of the payee) the drawer thereof, shall
respectively be entitled to the same rights, and be placed in the same position in all respects, as they would
respectively be entitled to and placed in if the amount ofthe cheque had been paid to and received by the
true owner thereof.
• Payment of crossed cheque out of due course –
Any banker paying a cheque crossed generally otherwise than to a banker, or a cheque crossed specially
otherwise than to the banker to whom the same is crossed, or his agent for collection, being a banker, shall
be liable to the true owner of the cheque for any loss he may sustain owingto the cheque having been so
paid.
• Non-liability of banker receiving payment of cheque– Section 131
A banker who has in good faith and without negligence received payment for a customer of a cheque
crossed generally or specially to himself shall not, in case the title to the cheque provesdefective, incur any
liability to the true owner of the cheque by reason only of having received such payment
In order to avail such protection, the banker needs to prove the following –
• The banker has received the payment of crossed cheque.
• That the collection was made by the bank on behalf of the customer.
• That the collecting bank must have acted in in good faith.
Dishonor of Cheque –
1) Sections 138 to 142 deals with dishonor of cheques and provides for criminal penalties in the event of
dishonor of cheques for insufficiency of funds.
2) Penalty for dishonour of cheque –
The drawer, under Section 138, may be punished with imprisonment up to 2 years or with a fine upto
twice the amount of the cheque or with both.
However, in order to attract the aforesaid penalties, following conditions must be satisfied:
✓ The cheque should have been dishonored due to insufficiency of funds in the account maintained by him with
a banker for payment of any amount of money to another personfrom out of that account.
✓ The payment for which the cheque was issued should have been in discharge of a legallyenforceable debt or
liability in whole or part of it.
✓ The cheque should have been presented within 3 months from the date on which it is drawn.
Presumption in favor of holder - Section 139
It shall be presumed that the holder of a cheque received the cheque for the discharge of any debt or
other liability.
Defense which may not be allowed in any prosecution under section 138 - Section 140
It shall not be a defense in a prosecution of an offence under section 138 that the drawer had no reason
to believe when he issued the cheque that the cheque may be dishonored on presentment because ofinsufficiency
of funds
Cognizance of offences – Section 142 (Point to take notice of and consider as offence by judge/magistrate)
A) Filing case –
1) Court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under section 138 only if it is in writing.
2) Time limit for filing the complaint is 1 month.
3) No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first
classshall try any offence punishable under section 138.
Provided that in the case of any conviction in a summary trial under this section, it shall be lawful for the
Magistrate to pass a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year and an amount of fineexceeding
five thousand rupees.
Power to direct interim compensation – Section 143A
1. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the Court trying
an offence under section 138 may order the drawer of the cheque to pay interim compensationto the
complainant—
a) in a summary trial or a summons case, where he pleads not guilty to the accusation made inthe complaint;
and
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 every offence punishable
under this Act shall be compoundable.
Power of Appellate Court to order payment pending appeal against conviction – Section 148
1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, in an appeal by the
drawer against conviction under section 138, the Appellate Court may order the appellant to depositsuch sum
which shall be a minimum of 20%. of the fine or compensation awarded by the trial Court:
Provided that the amount payable under this sub-section shall be in addition to any interim compensation
paid by the appellant under section 143A.
2) The amount mentioned above shall be deposited within 60 days from the date of the order, orwithin such further
period not exceeding 30 days as may be directed by the Court on sufficientcause being shown by the appellant.
3) The Appellate Court may direct the release of the amount deposited by the appellant to thecomplainant at any
time during the pendency of the appeal:
Provided that if the appellant is acquitted, the Court shall direct the complainant to repay to the appellant the
amount so released, with interest at the bank rate as published by the Reserve Bankof India, prevalent at the
beginning of the relevant financial year, within 60 days from the date of the order, or within such further period
not exceeding 30 days as may be directed by the Court onsufficient cause being shown by the complainant
Hundis –
A) Meaning –
1) Hundis are negotiable instruments written in an oriental language.
2) They are sometimes bills of exchange and sometimes promissory notes, and are not covered under the
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
3) They are governed by the customs and usages in the locality but if custom is silent on thepoint in dispute
before the Court, this Act applies to the hundis.
B) Types of Hundis –
Types Description
Shah Jog “Shah” means a respectable and responsible person or a man of worth in the bazar.
Hundi ShahJog Hundi means a hundi which is payable only to a respectable holder, as
opposed to a hundi payable to bearer. In other words the drawee before paying the
same has to satisfyhimself that the payee is a ‘SHAH’.
Jokhmi A “jokhmi” hundi is always drawn on or against goods shipped on the vessel
Hundi mentioned inthe hundi. It implies a condition that money will be paid only in the
event of arrival of the goods against which the hundi is drawn. It is in the nature of
policy of insurance. The difference, however, is that the money is paid beforehand
and is to be recovered if the ship arrives safely