Keep the three stages separate
- Demand notice: ordinarily within 30 days of receiving the bank's information about dishonour.
- Payment period: 15 days from service of the notice on the drawer. The service evidence matters.
- Complaint: one month from the cause of action arising after the payment period expires without payment. A calendar month is not always 30 days; complaint delay may be condoned on sufficient cause under Section 142.
This tool does not calculate your complaint deadline. If notice was refused, returned, delivered late or its service is disputed, an advocate must assess actual or deemed service and the resulting dates. Do not use a fixed total number of days from the bank memo.
Presentment must also be within the cheque's applicable validity. This checker does not assess validity, enforceable liability, service, jurisdiction or court holidays. Do not wait until the final displayed date to act.
If you have received a demand notice
Keep the envelope, notice and date of receipt. A reply or settlement discussion does not by itself stop or extend the statutory payment period. Read what to do after receiving a cheque bounce notice.
Sources and further reading
- Supreme Court: N. Harihara Krishnan (2017), Section 142 limitation
- C.C. Alavi Haji v. Palapetty Muhammed, Supreme Court, 18 May 2007: service of notice
- Cheque bounce proceedings in Hyderabad: documents and stages
General legal information, updated 13 September 2026. Verify the evidence and applicable law for your own matter with an advocate.