Chapter V - Of Presentment
Section 63
Section 63: Drawee’s time to consider acceptance
Section 63 gives the drawee of a bill a specified period to consider acceptance when the drawee requires that time.
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This article is for general information. Refer to the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 official text for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.
Statutory text
Bare law
The holder must, if so required by the drawee of a bill of exchange presented to him for acceptance, allow the drawee forty-eight hours (exclusive of public holidays) to consider whether he will accept it.
Key rule and applicability
When a bill is presented for acceptance and the drawee so requires, the holder must allow forty-eight hours, excluding public holidays, for the acceptance decision.
Limits and related provisions
The rule concerns a requested acceptance-deliberation period, not an automatic payment extension for every instrument. Do not ignore public holidays or treat a grant of additional time beyond the statutory allowance as consequence-free; section 83 addresses that separate issue.
Hypothetical business example
Hypothetical: on presentment for acceptance, the drawee asks for the statutory consideration time. The holder records the request and calculates forty-eight hours excluding relevant public holidays before assessing the acceptance response.
Practical decision flow
Record the bill’s presentment for acceptance and the drawee’s request.
Calculate the forty-eight-hour allowance excluding public holidays.
Before granting a longer period, review section 83 and the position of earlier parties.
Practical checklist
Do
- Record the bill’s presentment for acceptance and the drawee’s request.
- Calculate the forty-eight-hour allowance excluding public holidays.
- Before granting a longer period, review section 83 and the position of earlier parties.
Avoid
- The rule concerns a requested acceptance-deliberation period, not an automatic payment extension for every instrument. Do not ignore public holidays or treat a grant of additional time beyond the statutory allowance as consequence-free; section 83 addresses that separate issue.
Glossary
- Deliberation period
- The permitted time to consider acceptance when requested.
- Public-holiday exclusion
- The removal of public holidays from the statutory time calculation.
Frequently asked questions
Is the allowance forty-eight hours including public holidays?
No. Public holidays are expressly excluded.
Does the drawee have to require the time?
The holder’s duty is stated to apply if so required by the drawee.
Does this automatically extend cheque payment time?
No. The provision concerns a bill presented for acceptance.
Need help applying this provision to your situation?
Contact BizeneedLast updated 10 October 2026