NI Act Section 37: Maker, drawer and acceptor principals
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 · Chapter 3: Of parties to notes, bills and cheques
Also available in: हिंदी
¶The maker of a promissory note or cheque, the drawer of a bill of exchange until acceptance, and the acceptor are, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, respectively liable thereon as principal debtors, and the other parties thereto are liable thereon as sureties for the maker, drawer or acceptor, as the case may be.
Official reference: India Code, Government of India — official section HTML — source review: 5 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2026-10-05.Banaka reference transcription of the official HTML snapshot; not an official or certified edition. Source wording and amendment brackets are retained; layout and footnote callouts are omitted. The recorded date is the review snapshot, not a separately dated consolidation. Hindi guides are original explanations. Read the source amendment notes and current judicial interpretation alongside the text. The historical schedule and section 2 are repealed.Read the original schedule and amendment notes
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 26. Capacity to make, etc., promissory notes, etc
- 27. Agency
- 28. Liability of agent signing
- 29. Liability of legal representative signing
- 30. Liability of drawer
- 31. Liability of drawee of cheque
- 32. Liability of maker of note and acceptor of bill
- 33. Only drawee can be acceptor except in need or for honour
- 34. Acceptance by several drawees not partners
- 35. Liability of indorser
- 36. Liability of prior parties to holder in due course
- 38. Prior party a principal in respect of each subsequent party
- 39. Suretyship
- 40. Discharge of indorser's liability
- 41. Acceptor bound, although, indorsement forged
- 42. Acceptance of bill drawn in fictitious name
- 43. Negotiable instrument made, etc., without consideration
- 44. Partial absence or failure of money-consideration
- 45. Partial failure of consideration not consisting of money
- 45A. Holder's right to duplicate of lost bill