Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 · Chapter II: Of Notes, Billsand Cheques
Section 6: ''Cheque''
[A cheque is a bill of exchange drawn on a specified banker and not expressed to be payable otherwise than on demand and it includes the electronic image of a truncated cheque and a cheque in the electronic form.
Explanation I.— For the purposes of this section, the expressions
[(a) a cheque in the electronic form means a cheque drawn in electronic form by using any computer resource and signed in a secure system with digital signature (with or without biometrics signature) and asymmetric crypto system or with electronic signature, as the case may be;]
(b) a truncated cheque means a cheque which is truncated during the course of a clearing cycle, either by the clearing house or by the bank whether paying or receiving payment, immediately on generation of an electronic image for transmission, substituting the further physical movement of the cheque in writing.
Explanation II. — For the purposes of this section, the expression clearing house means the clearing house managed by the Reserve Bank of India or a clearing house recognised as such by the Reserve Bank of India.]
[Explanation III. — For the purposes of this section, the expressions asymmetric crypto system, computer resource, digital signature, electronic form and electronic signature shall have the same meanings respectively assigned to them in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000).]
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 6
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K. Hymavathi v. The State of Andhra Pradesh &
High Court if justified in quashing the criminal proceedings filed by appellant against respondent No.2-accused u/ss.138 and 142 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 holding that it was a fit case for quashing since…
- Rohitbhai Jivanlal Patel v. State of Gujarat & Anr.
- Anil Kumar Sawhney v. Gulshan Rai