Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 · Chapter IX: O F N O T I N G A N D P R O T E S T
Section 101: Contents of protest
In plain words
A protest must contain the instrument or an exact copy, the names of the parties for and against whom it is made, a statement of the notary's demand and the answer (or that there was none), the place and time of dishonour or refusal, and the notary's signature.
- If there was an acceptance or payment for honour, it must also say who made it, for whom, and how.
- The notary can make the demand in person, through a clerk, or by registered letter where allowed by agreement or usage.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
A protest under section 100 must contain—
(a) either the instrument itself, or a literal transcript of the instrument and of everything written or printed thereupon;
(b) the name of the person for whom and against whom the instrument has been protested;
(c) a statement that payment or acceptance, or better security, as the case may be, has been demanded of such person by the notary public; the terms of his answer, if any, or a statement that he gave no answer or that he could not be found;
(d) when the note or bill has been dishonoured, the place and time of dishonour, and, when better security has been refused, the place and time of refusal;
(e) the subscription of the notary public making the protest;
(f) in the event of an acceptance for honour or of a payment for honour, the name of the person by whom, of the person for whom, and the manner in which, such acceptance or payment was offered and effected.
[A notary public may make the demand mentioned in clause (c) of this section either in person or by his clerk or, where authorized by agreement or usage, by registered letter.]
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 101
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.