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Section 69: Instrument payable at specified place

Negotiable Instruments Act • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide

Statutory Regulation
Legal Standard
Competent Court / Tribunal
Act 1881
Section 68 All 148 Sections of Negotiable Instruments Act Section 70

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 69

Section 69 governs instruments made, accepted, or payable at a specified place and not elsewhere, enacting that they must be presented at that place in order to charge the maker or acceptor.

  • Strict Restrictive Venue Clause: Applies where the instrument incorporates restrictive words like 'payable at [Venue] and not elsewhere'.
  • Condition to Charge Acceptor: Unlike ordinary bills where the acceptor is liable generally, here presentment at the venue is mandatory even to charge the principal acceptor.
  • Total Discharge on Omission: Failure to present at the designated venue completely releases the maker, acceptor, and all secondary parties.
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • Rowe v. Young (1820) 2 Bligh 391: The historic House of Lords decision that led to codified statutory rules on qualified place-of-payment acceptances.
  • Pratapsingh v. Raghunathdas: Affirmed that where an acceptance is qualified as to place ('payable at Bank X and not elsewhere'), presentment at Bank X is indispensable to charge the acceptor.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

Borrowers and commercial acceptors often insert 'payable at [Specific Office] and not elsewhere' to protect themselves against unexpected summary suits in distant jurisdictions. Creditors must respect this venue restriction to avoid dismissal under Section 69.

Section 68 All 148 Sections of Negotiable Instruments Act Section 70