Cheque : Meaning , Types and Explanation

The cheque is an instrument in writing which contains an unconditional instruction to a banker (by a person who has already deposit the amount with a banker), to pay a specific amount to a certain person or to the order of the certain person or to the bearer of the instrument only on the demand.

The cheque is the most used type of negotiable instrument. It is simple and easy to use. It is the piece of paper on which the same of the payer is already mention and he will write the name of the receiver of the payment and amount to be paid and signed it. The receiver will receive cash from the cheque by encashing it from the bank.

“A cheque is a bill of exchange drawn on a specified banker and not expressed to be payable otherwise than on demand and it includes the electronic image of a truncated cheque and a cheque in the electronic form.”

-Section 6 of India’s Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881

The feature of Cheque: 

1. It should be in writing.
2. The instruction to the banker to make a payment on the specific date on demand by the receiver.
3. An unconditional order of payment, it does not contain any condition of payment.
4. A certain amount should be described in it.
5. It must be signed by Drawer (maker).
6. The amount must be payable to either a certain person or on his/her behalf.
7. It should be paid on the date of demand.

Parties involved in cheques:

There are three parties are involved, shown as follows:-

1. Drawer
2. Drawee
3. Payee

1. Who is the Drawer? 

The drawer is the person who issues the cheque to his/her creditor and holds a bank account.  The purchase of goods and services is also known as a drawer (expect some cases).

2. Who is the Drawee?

The person who is directed to make payment of some specific/mentioned amount to the already mentioned person on it.

3. Who is the Payee?

The drawee is the person who will receive the payment from the banker against the sale of goods and services and whose name is mention on it.

Type of Cheques: –

The format of all cheque almost the same with each other. It may vary from bank to bank like colour difference, size of cheques. The types of cheques are only changed at the time of issuing it to someone. The different type of cheques are shown as following: –

1. Bearer Cheques
2. Account payee Cheques
3. Back Dated Cheques
4. Post Dated Cheques
5. Stale Cheques

1. Bearer Cheques: 

At the time of issuing a cheque if we did not cancel the word bearer on cheque then it will be known as bearer cheque. it can be encashed by any person from the bank counter. This type is very risky because when this type of cheques lost and who will found it, he can get cash against it from the bank.

2. Account payee Cheques: 

At the time of issuing a cheque if the drawer marks two lines on the left side upper corner, centre at the top or right side upper corner of the cheque then it will be known as account payee cheque. it can be encashed by only in the account of that person whose name is mention on it. This is the safer way of issuing.

3. Back Dated Cheques: 

At the time of issuing the cheques if the drawer writes an earlier date form today on them then these are known as backdated cheques or anti dated cheques.

4. Post Dated Cheques: 

At the time of issuing the cheques if the drawer writes a next date form today on them then these are known as backdated cheques or post-dated cheques.

5. Stale Cheques:

Those cheques which are expired without encashing it from the bank.

Some Old images of Cheques:

1. Thomas Jefferson as payee and payor from 1809
2. from 1905
3. from 1933
4. An English crossed cheque from 1956 having a bank clerk’s red mark verifying the signature, a two-pence stamp duty, and holes punched by hand to cancel it. This is disallowing transfer of payment to another account.

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