Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881
Q. Define the term ‘Bills of Exchange’ and explain its essentials.
Ans: As per Section 5 a "bill of exchange” is "an instrument in writing containing an unconditional order, signed by the maker, directing a certain person to pay a certain sum of money only to, or to the order of, a certain person or to the bearer of the instrument.”
The essentials of a Bill of Exchange are :-
1. Number of parties - A bill
of exchange has 3 parties:
(a) the drawer, who draws the bill of exchange
(b) the drawee, who has to make the payment
(c) the payee, who is entitled to the payment.
Sometimes the drawer and the payee can be one and the same person.
2. Must be writing – The
Bill of Exchange must be in writing.
3. Express order to pay –
This is the essence of a bill of exchange. There must be an ‘order by the
drawer to the drawee to pay’. The order must be a command and not an excessive
request.
4. Order must be unconditional –
The order to pay must be unconditional. In other words the happening of the
condition must be certain.
5. Order to pay money only –
Just as a promissory note, the instrument must be for money only.
6. Sum payable to be certain – The
amount payable must be certain. There should be no ambiguity in the amount to
be paid through the Bill of Exchange.
7. Must be signed – The
instrument is complete only when it is signed by the drawer and the drawee.
8. Must bear the stamp – A
Bill of Exchange must be properly stamped in accordance with the Indian Stamp
Act, 1899 and must also be properly cancelled.
9. Other formalities – Formalities
such as date, place, consideration, etc. are usally found in a Bill of Exchange.