31. Issue of demand bills and notes.

¹[(1)] No person in ²[India] other than the Bank or, as expressly authorized by this Act, the ³[Central Government] shall draw, accept, make or issue any bill of exchange, hundi, promissory note or engagement for the payment of money payable to bearer on demand, or borrow, owe or take up any sum or sums of money on the bills, hundis or notes payable to bearer on demand of any such person:

Provided that cheques or drafts, including hundis, payable to bearer on demand or otherwise may be drawn on a person’s account with a banker, shroff or agent.

⁴[(2) notwithstanding anything contained in the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, no person in ⁵[India] other than the Bank or, as expressly authorised by this Act, the Central Government shall make or issue any promissory note expressed to be payable to the bearer of the instrument.]

⁶[(3) notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the Central Government may authorize any scheduled bank to issue electoral bond.

Explanation. - For the purposes of this sub-section, "electoral bond" means a bond issued by any scheduled bank under the scheme as may be notified by the Central Government.]

Note:

1.  S. 31 re-numbered as sub-section (1) of that section by Act 23 of 1946, s. 2.

2. Subs. by Act. 32 of 1951, S. 2. for "the states" (w.e.f. 1-11-1951).

3. Subs. by the M.O. 1937, for "G.G. in C".

4. Ins. by Act 23 of 1946, s. 2.

5. Subs. by Act 32 of 1951, s. 2, for "the States" (w.e.f. 1-11-1951).

6. Inserted by Act 7 of 2017, S. 135 (w.e.f 1-4-2017).