Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 · Chapter III: P A R T I E S T O N O T E S, B I L L S A N D C H E Q U E S .
Section 33: Only drawee can be acceptor except in need or for honour
In plain words
Only the drawee (or some or all of several drawees), a drawee in case of need, or an acceptor for honour can bind themselves by accepting a bill of exchange.
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
No person except the drawee of a bill exchange, or all or some of several drawees, or a person named therein as a drawee in case of need, or an acceptor for honour, can bind himself by an acceptance.
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 33
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.