Tool
Cheque bounce deadline calculator — every Section 138 date, from the return memo to the complaint.
Under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, a bounced cheque gives you a criminal remedy with strict deadlines. Enter the dates you have. Nothing is stored or sent.
Reviewed by Shraddha Rathod, Head of B2B Collections · B.Com, LL.B · Last reviewed · How we review
Cheque valid for presentation until
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Send the demand notice by
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Drawer must pay by
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File the complaint by
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How the dates are worked out
- Presentation. A cheque is valid for three months from the date written on it, under the Reserve Bank of India's rule in force since 1 April 2012. It must be presented within that period (Section 138(a)).
- The demand notice. Within 30 days of receiving the bank's information that the cheque was returned unpaid (Section 138(b)).
- The payment window. The drawer has 15 days from receiving the notice to pay (Section 138(c)). The cause of action arises on the day after that window ends.
- The complaint. Within one month of the date the cause of action arises (Section 142(1)(b)), counted by excluding that day, as the Supreme Court held in Saketh India v. India Securities (1999). A late complaint can be admitted only if the court condones the delay for sufficient cause.
This is an estimate, not legal advice. The dates of receipt are what count, so keep proof of when the memo arrived and when the drawer received the notice. If a last day falls on a holiday, check the position with your advocate. See our guide to the cheque bounce case and its time limits.
Questions people ask
What is the notice period for a cheque bounce?
The payee must send a written demand notice within 30 days of receiving the bank's information that the cheque was returned unpaid. The drawer then has 15 days from receiving the notice to pay.
What is the time limit to file a cheque bounce case?
One month from the date the cause of action arises, which is the day after the drawer's 15-day payment window ends, counted by excluding that day. The court can admit a late complaint only if it condones the delay for sufficient cause.
How long is a cheque valid in India?
Three months from the date written on it, under the Reserve Bank of India's rule in force since 1 April 2012.
Can a bounced cheque be presented again?
Yes, within its validity. A later dishonour can found the complaint if the notice for that dishonour is sent in time, as the Supreme Court held in MSR Leathers v. S. Palaniappan (2012).
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