Delivery of instrument on payment or indemnity in case of loss
Section 81 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 deals with delivery of instrument on payment or indemnity in case of loss. ] Any person liable to pay, and called upon by the holder thereof to pay, the amount due on a promissory note, bill of exchange or cheque is before payment entitled to have it shown, and is on payment entitled to have it delivered up, to him, or if the instrument is lost or cannot be produced, to be The Act came into force on 01 Mar 1882.
1[(1)] Any person liable to pay, and called upon by the holder thereof to pay, the amount due on a promissory note, bill of exchange or cheque is before payment entitled to have it shown, and is on payment entitled to have it delivered up, to him, or if the instrument is lost or cannot be produced, to be indemnified against any further claim thereon against him.
2[(2) Where the cheque is an electronic image of a truncated cheque, even after the payment the banker who received the payment shall be entitled to retain the truncated cheque.
(3) A certificate issued on the foot of the printout of the electronic image of a truncated cheque by the banker who paid the instrument, shall be prima facie proof of such payment.]
Section 81, The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (Act 26 of 1881).
Questions about Section 81
What does Section 81 of the Negotiable Instruments Act deal with?
Section 81 of the Negotiable Instruments Act is headed "Delivery of instrument on payment or indemnity in case of loss". ] Any person liable to pay, and called upon by the holder thereof to pay, the amount due on a promissory note, bill of exchange or cheque is before payment entitled to have it shown, and is on payment entitled to have it delivered up, to him, or if the instrument is lost or cannot be produced, to be
How do I find court cases under Section 81 of the Negotiable Instruments Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: NI Act 81, section 81 NI Act, section 81 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
When did Section 81 of the Negotiable Instruments Act come into force?
Section 81 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, cited as NI Act 81, came into force on 01 Mar 1882, having been enacted on 09 Dec 1881. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 138. Dishonour of cheque for insufficiency, etc., of funds in the account312 words
- 142A. Validation for transfer of pending cases299 words
- 143. Power of Court to try cases summarily297 words
- 143A. Power to direct interim compensation291 words
- 142. Cognizance of offences290 words
- 141. Offences by companies287 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.