Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 · Chapter III: P A R T I E S T O N O T E S, B I L L S A N D C H E Q U E S .
Section 45A: Holder's right to duplicate of lost bill
In plain words
If a bill of exchange is lost before it is overdue, the holder can ask the drawer for a duplicate of the same terms, giving security if required to protect the drawer if the lost bill turns up. A drawer who refuses can be compelled to give it.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
[Where a bill of exchange has been lost before it is over-due, the person who was the holder of it may apply to the drawer to give him another bill of the same tenor, giving security to the drawer, if required, to indemnify him against all persons whatever in case the bill alleged to have been lost shall be found again.
If the drawer on request as aforesaid refuses to give such duplicate bill, he may be compelled to do so.]
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 45A
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.