Cheque Bounce Limitation Calculator (Section 138 NI Act)
A cheque bounce complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 fails if any one time limit is missed. Enter the dates you have below. The calculator shows each deadline and tells you whether the dates already passed were within time. Read the step-by-step cheque bounce guide for the full process, or use the free legal notice format.
Your deadlines
The rules the calculator uses
- Cheque validity: a cheque is valid for 3 months from the date written on it (RBI rule). The calculator treats a cheque dated 15 January as valid up to 14 April.
- Legal notice: must be sent within 30 days of receiving information of dishonour from the bank (Section 138, proviso (b)).
- Payment time: the drawer gets 15 days from receiving the notice to pay (proviso (c)). The complaint cannot be filed before these 15 days end; a premature complaint is not maintainable.
- Complaint: must be filed within one month of the date the cause of action arises, that is the day after the 15 days end (Section 142(1)(b)). Following the Supreme Court's ruling in Saketh India Ltd. v. India Securities Ltd. (1999), the day the cause of action arises is excluded, so if it arises on 17 January the last date is 17 February.
- Refused or unclaimed notice: a notice sent to the correct address that comes back "refused" or "unclaimed" is generally treated as served. Use the date shown in the tracking report.
- Holidays: if the last date for filing falls on a day the court is closed, the complaint can be filed on the next working day.
- Delay: a complaint filed late can be accepted only if the court condones the delay for sufficient cause. Do not rely on this.
हिंदी में: चेक की वैधता 3 महीने होती है। रिटर्न मेमो मिलने के 30 दिन के अंदर नोटिस भेजना ज़रूरी है। नोटिस मिलने के बाद चेक देने वाले को भुगतान के लिए 15 दिन मिलते हैं। उसके बाद अगले दिन से एक महीने के अंदर शिकायत दायर करनी होती है। ऊपर तारीखें भरें और कैलकुलेटर आपकी आखिरी तारीखें बता देगा।
This calculator gives an estimate based on Section 138 and 142 of the NI Act as of October 2026. It is not legal advice. Dates of receipt of the memo and service of notice can be disputed, and court holidays vary, so confirm the deadlines with an advocate and do not wait till the last day.