Payment of instrument on which alteration is not apparent
Section 89 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 deals with payment of instrument on which alteration is not apparent. ] Where a promissory note, bill of exchange or cheque has been materially altered but does not appear to have been so altered, or where a cheque is presented for payment which does not at the time of presentation appear to be crossed or to have had a crossing which has been obliterated, payment ther The Act came into force on 01 Mar 1882.
1[(1)] Where a promissory note, bill of exchange or cheque has been materially altered but does not appear to have been so altered, or where a cheque is presented for payment which does not at the time of presentation appear to be crossed or to have had a crossing which has been obliterated, payment thereof by a person or banker liable to pay, and paying the same according to the apparent tenor thereof at the time of payment and otherwise in due course, shall discharge such person or banker from all liability thereon; and such payment shall not be questioned by reason of the instrument having been altered or the cheque crossed.
2[(2) Where the cheque is an electronic image of a truncated cheque, any difference in apparent tenor of such electronic image and the truncated cheque shall be a material alteration and it shall be the duty of the bank or the clearing house, as the case may be, to ensure the exactness of the apparent tenor of electronic image of the truncated cheque while truncating and transmitting the image.
(3) Any bank or a clearing house which receives a transmitted electronic image of a truncated cheque, shall verify from the party who transmitted the image to it, that the image so transmitted to it and received by it, is exactly the same.]
Section 89, The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (Act 26 of 1881).
Questions about Section 89
What does Section 89 of the Negotiable Instruments Act deal with?
Section 89 of the Negotiable Instruments Act is headed "Payment of instrument on which alteration is not apparent". ] Where a promissory note, bill of exchange or cheque has been materially altered but does not appear to have been so altered, or where a cheque is presented for payment which does not at the time of presentation appear to be crossed or to have had a crossing which has been obliterated, payment ther
How do I find court cases under Section 89 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 89, section 89 NI Act, section 89 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. People searching for it also type what is act 89. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
When did Section 89 of the Negotiable Instruments Act come into force?
Section 89 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, cited as NI Act 89, 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 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.