Negotiable Instruments Act Section 61 — Presentment for acceptance
CHAPTER IV OF NEGOTIATION
General
Summary
A bill of exchange that is payable after sight must be shown to the person who has to pay it (the drawee) for their acceptance, unless a specific time or place for doing so is written on the bill. This must happen within a reasonable time after the bill is created, during normal business hours on a business day, and only if the drawee can be found with a reasonable search. If the bill is not presented this way, the person who failed to present it cannot hold any party liable on the bill. If the drawee cannot be found after a reasonable search, the bill is considered dishonoured. If the bill names a specific place for the drawee, it must be presented there, and if the drawee is not found there on the due date after a reasonable search, the bill is dishonoured. If allowed by agreement or custom, presenting the bill through the post office by registered letter is enough.
Official Text
A bill of exchange payable after sight must, if no time or place is specified therein for presentment, be presented to the drawee thereof for acceptance, if he can, after reasonable search, be found, by a person entitled to demand acceptance, within a reasonable time after it is drawn, and in business hours on a business day. In default of such presentment, no party thereto is liable thereon to the person making such default. If the drawee cannot, after reasonable search, be found, the bill is dishonoured. If the bill is directed to the drawee at a particular place, it must be presented at that place; and if at the due date for presentment he cannot, after reasonable search, be found there, the till is dishonoured. 1[Where authorized by agreement or usage, a presentment through the post office by means of a registered letter is sufficient.]