Wednesday, November 07, 2007

NI Act_Practicle Problems_37

What is meant by “Payment of Due Course” in respect of a negotiable instrument? A cheque originally expressed payable to bearer is subsequently made payable to order by endorsement in full. Is it in order for the drawee bank to pay the amount to the bearer of the cheque?

In the cases of an instrument payable to order the drawee of a bill or maker of a note is discharged by payment in due course if it is indorsed by or on behalf of the payee. But, in the case of a cheque there is an exception. The rule is once a bearer instrument is always a bearer instrument. Hence the banker will be discharged by payment in due course to the bearer of a cheque which was originally expressed payable to bearer even though it was subsequently endorsed in full [Section 85(2)].

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