The Negotiable Instruments Act
An Act to define and amend the law relating to Promissory Notes, Bills of Exchange and Cheques.1881
List of Chapters & Sections
PRELIMINARY
OF NOTES, BILLS AND CHEQUES
PARTIES TO NOTES, BILLS AND CHEQUES
OF NEGOTIATION
OF PRESENTMENT
OF PAYMENT AND INTEREST
OF DISCHARGE FROM LIABILITY ON NOTES, BILLS AND CHEQUES
OF NOTICE OF DISHONOUR
OF NOTING AND PROTEST
OF REASONABLE TIME
OF ACCEPTANCE AND PAYMENT FOR HONOUR AND REFERENCE IN CASE OF NEED
OF COMPENSATION
SPECIAL RULES OF EVIDENCE
OF CROSSED CHEQUE
OF BILLS IN SETS
OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
OF PENALTIES IN CASE OF DISHONOUR OF CERTAIN CHEQUES FOR INSUFFICIENCY OF FUNDS IN THE ACCOUNTS
PRELIMINARY
OF NOTES, BILLS AND CHEQUES
4''Promissory note''5''Bill of exchange''6''Cheque''7''Drawer.'8''Holder''9''Holder in due course''10''Payment in due course''11Inland instrument12Foreign instrument13''Negotiable instrument''14Negotiation15Indorsement16Indorsement ''in blank'' and ''in full''17Ambiguous instruments18Where amount is stated differently in figures and words19Instruments payable on demand20Inchoate stamped instruments21''At sight''22''Maturity''23Calculating maturity of bill or note payable so many months after date or sight24Calculating maturity of bill or note payable so many days after date or sight25When day of maturity is a holidayPARTIES TO NOTES, BILLS AND CHEQUES
26Capacity to make, etc., promissory notes, etc27Agency28Liability of agent signing29Liability of legal representative signing30Liability of drawer31Liability of drawee of cheque32Liability of maker of note and acceptor of bill33Only drawee can be acceptor except in need or for honour34Acceptance by several drawees not partners35Liability of indorser36Liability of prior parties to holder in due course37Maker, drawer and acceptor principals38Prior party a principal in respect of each subsequent party39Suretyship40Discharge of indorser's liability41Acceptor bound, although, indorsement forged42Acceptance of bill drawn in fictitious name43Negotiable instrument made, etc., without consideration44Partial absence or failure of money-consideration45Partial failure of consideration not consisting of money45AHolder's right to duplicate of lost billOF NEGOTIATION
46Delivery47Negotiation by delivery48Negotiation by indorsement49Conversion of indorsement in blank into indorsement in full50Effect of indorsement51Who may negotiate52Indorser who excludes his own liability or makes it conditional53Holder deriving title from holder in due course54Instrument indorsed in blank55Conversion of indorsement in blank into indorsement in full56Indorsement for part of sum due57Legal representative cannot by delivery only negotiate instrument indorsed by deceased58Instrument obtained by unlawful means or for unlawful consideration59Instrument acquired after dishonour or when overdue60Instrument negotiable till payment or satisfactionOF PRESENTMENT
61Presentment for acceptance62Presentment of promissory note for sight63Drawee's time for deliberation64Presentment for payment65Hours for presentment66Presentment for payment of instrument payable after date or sight67Presentment for payment of promissory note payable by instalments68Presentment for payment of instrument payable at specified place and not elsewhere69Instrument payable at specified place70Presentment where no exclusive place specified71Presentment when maker, etc., has no known place of business or residence72Presentment of cheque to charge drawer73Presentment of cheque to charge any other person74Presentment of instrument payable on demand75Presentment by or to agent, representative of deceased, or assignee of insolvent75AExcuse for delay in presentment for acceptance or payment76When presentment unnecessary77Liability of banker for negligently dealing with bill presented for paymentOF PAYMENT AND INTEREST
OF DISCHARGE FROM LIABILITY ON NOTES, BILLS AND CHEQUES
82Discharge from liability83Discharge by allowing drawee more than forty-eight hours to accept84When cheque not duly presented and drawer damaged thereby85Cheque payable to order85ADrafts drawn by one branch of a bank on another payable to order86Parties not consenting discharged by qualified or limited acceptance87Effect of material alteration88Acceptor or indorser bound notwithstanding previous alteration89Payment of instrument on which alteration is not apparent90Extinguishment of rights of action on bill in acceptor's handsOF NOTICE OF DISHONOUR
OF NOTING AND PROTEST
OF REASONABLE TIME
OF ACCEPTANCE AND PAYMENT FOR HONOUR AND REFERENCE IN CASE OF NEED
108Acceptance for honour109How acceptance for honour must be made110Acceptance not specifying for whose honour it is made111Liability of acceptor for honour112When acceptor for honour may be charged113Payment for honour114Right of payer for honour115Drawee in case of need116Acceptance and payment without protestOF COMPENSATION
SPECIAL RULES OF EVIDENCE
OF CROSSED CHEQUE
123Cheque crossed generally124Cheque crossed specially125Crossing after issue126Payment of cheque crossed generally127Payment of cheque crossed specially more than once128Payment in due course of crossed cheque129Payment of crossed cheque out of due course130Cheque bearing ''not negotiable''131Non-liability of banker receiving payment of cheque131AApplication of Chapter to draftsOF BILLS IN SETS
OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
OF PENALTIES IN CASE OF DISHONOUR OF CERTAIN CHEQUES FOR INSUFFICIENCY OF FUNDS IN THE ACCOUNTS
138Dishonour of cheque for insufficiency, etc., of funds in the account139Presumption in favour of holder140Defence which may not be allowed in any prosecution under section 138141Offences by companies142Cognizance of offences142AValidation for transfer of pending cases143Power of Court to try cases summarily143APower to direct interim compensation144Mode of service of summons145Evidence on affidavit146Bank's slip prima facie evidence of certain facts147Offences to be compoundable148Power of Appellate Court to order payment pending appeal against conviction