Cheque Bounce Legal Notice Format: Free Samples for Individuals, Businesses and Companies (Section 138)

A cheque bounce legal notice format under Section 138, Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 must include the drawer’s details, cheque number, date, amount and bank, the date and reason of dishonour, and a demand to pay the exact cheque amount within 15 days of receipt. It must be sent within 30 days of receiving the bank’s return memo.

Key Takeaways

• A cheque bounce legal notice has no fixed statutory format, but it must be in writing and must demand payment of the cheque amount under clause (b) of the proviso to Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
• The amount demanded in the notice must be exactly the cheque amount; the Supreme Court held in Kaveri Plastics v. Mahdoom Bawa Bahrudeen Noorul (2025) that a notice demanding a different amount is invalid.
• Interest, notice charges or legal costs may be mentioned only separately from the cheque amount, not combined into one demand.
• When a company has issued the cheque, the notice should be addressed to the company, and copies can be sent to the directors in charge of its business under Section 141 of the NI Act.
• The notice must give the drawer 15 days from receipt to pay and must be sent within 30 days of the payee receiving the bank’s return memo.
• The same format can be sent by registered post, speed post, email or WhatsApp, but sending by post as well gives the strongest proof of service.

Introduction

A well-drafted legal notice is the backbone of every cheque bounce case. If the notice is defective, the court can dismiss the complaint even when the money is genuinely owed.

This page gives you ready-to-use cheque bounce legal notice formats for the most common situations: a personal loan, an unpaid business invoice, a cheque issued by a company, and a notice sent without a lawyer. It also includes a Hindi format, a format for replying to a notice, and a clause-by-clause explanation so you understand what every line does.

What Must Every Cheque Bounce Legal Notice Format Contain?

Every valid format must identify the parties and the cheque, state the dishonour, and demand the exact cheque amount within 15 days of receipt, warning of proceedings under Section 138.

The law at a glance

Mandatory elements checklist

What the courts have said about the format

(a) The statute: Section 138 does not prescribe any particular format. It only requires a written demand for the cheque amount.

(b) What courts have held: In Kaveri Plastics v. Mahdoom Bawa Bahrudeen Noorul (2025 INSC 1133), the Supreme Court held that the notice must demand “the very amount of cheque, and none other”. The notice in that case demanded ₹20 lakh for a ₹10 lakh cheque, and the complaint was quashed. The Court said other claims such as interest or notice charges may be added only if the cheque amount is clearly stated as the sum demanded.

(c) Practical advice: Write the cheque amount in both figures and words, and double-check it against the cheque before signing. Keep any other claim in a separate, clearly marked paragraph.

Format 1: Cheque Bounce Legal Notice for a Personal Loan (Individual to Individual)

Use this format when you lent money to a friend, relative or acquaintance and the repayment cheque bounced.

LEGAL NOTICE UNDER SECTION 138 OF THE NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS ACT, 1881

Sent by: Registered Post A.D. / Speed Post / Email / WhatsApp

Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

To,
Mr./Ms. [Full name of drawer]
S/o / D/o / W/o [Father’s or spouse’s name]
[Residential address]
[Office address, if known]
Email: [email] | Mobile: [number]

Subject: Legal notice for dishonour of Cheque No. [number] dated [date] for ₹[amount]

Sir/Madam,

Under instructions from and on behalf of my client, Mr./Ms. [name of payee], residing at [address] (hereinafter “my client”), I hereby serve upon you the following legal notice:

1. That on [date], you approached my client for a friendly loan of ₹[amount] for [purpose, if known], promising to repay it by [date]. My client paid you the said sum by [mode: bank transfer / cheque / cash], on [date].
2. That towards repayment of the said loan, you issued Cheque No. [number] dated [date] for ₹[amount in figures] (Rupees [amount in words] only), drawn on [bank name], [branch], in favour of my client, assuring my client that it would be honoured on presentation.
3. That my client presented the said cheque for payment through his/her bank, [bank name and branch], on [date of deposit]. The cheque was returned unpaid with the remark “[reason, e.g. Funds Insufficient]” vide return memo dated [date], which my client received on [date].
4. That you issued the said cheque in discharge of a legally enforceable debt, and its dishonour constitutes an offence punishable under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
5. That my client hereby calls upon you to pay the said cheque amount of ₹[exact cheque amount] (Rupees [amount in words] only) within 15 (fifteen) days of receipt of this notice.
6. That if you fail to make the said payment within the stipulated period, my client shall be constrained to initiate criminal proceedings against you under Section 138 read with Section 142 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, besides civil proceedings for recovery, entirely at your risk as to costs and consequences.

A copy of this notice has been retained in my office for record and further action.

[Signature]
[Name of Advocate], Advocate
Enrolment No. [number]
[Office address]
Phone: [number] | Email: [email]

Format 2: Cheque Bounce Legal Notice for an Unpaid Business Invoice

Use this format when a customer or buyer paid for goods or services by a cheque that bounced. It also shows how to mention interest separately without affecting validity.

LEGAL NOTICE UNDER SECTION 138 OF THE NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS ACT, 1881

Sent by: Registered Post A.D. / Speed Post / Email

Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

To,
[Name of buyer / proprietor]
[Trade name, if any]
[Business address]
GSTIN: [if known]

Subject: Legal notice for dishonour of Cheque No. [number] dated [date] for ₹[amount] towards Invoice No. [number]

Sir/Madam,

Under instructions from and on behalf of my client, [name of supplier / firm], having its place of business at [address] (hereinafter “my client”), I hereby serve upon you the following legal notice:

1. That my client supplied [goods / services] to you under Invoice No(s). [number(s)] dated [date(s)] for a total value of ₹[amount], which you received without any complaint.
2. That towards payment of the said invoice(s), you issued Cheque No. [number] dated [date] for ₹[amount in figures] (Rupees [amount in words] only), drawn on [bank name], [branch], in favour of my client.
3. That my client presented the said cheque through its bank, [bank name and branch], on [date]. The cheque was returned unpaid with the remark “[reason]” vide return memo dated [date], received by my client on [date].
4. That the said cheque was issued in discharge of a legally enforceable liability, and its dishonour constitutes an offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
5. That my client hereby calls upon you to pay the said cheque amount of ₹[exact cheque amount] (Rupees [amount in words] only) within 15 (fifteen) days of receipt of this notice.
6. That, separately and without prejudice to the above demand, my client reserves its right to claim interest at [rate]% per annum on the outstanding amount from [date] [and, if applicable, interest under Section 16 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006] and notice charges of ₹[amount], through appropriate proceedings.
7. That if you fail to pay the said cheque amount within the stipulated period, my client shall initiate criminal proceedings against you under Section 138 read with Section 142 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, and civil proceedings for recovery, entirely at your risk as to costs and consequences.

[Signature]
[Name of Advocate], Advocate
Enrolment No. [number]
[Office address, phone, email]

Why paragraph 6 is separate: Following Kaveri Plastics (2025), the cheque amount must be the only sum demanded in the Section 138 paragraph. Interest and charges are mentioned separately as a reservation of rights.

Format 3: Cheque Bounce Legal Notice to a Company and Its Directors

Use this format when the cheque was signed on behalf of a company, LLP or partnership firm.

LEGAL NOTICE UNDER SECTIONS 138 AND 141 OF THE NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS ACT, 1881

Sent by: Registered Post A.D. / Speed Post / Email

Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

To,
1. [Name of company] [Private Limited / Limited / LLP]
Through its Managing Director / Authorised Signatory
Registered Office: [address]
2. Mr./Ms. [Name], Managing Director / Director, [address]
3. Mr./Ms. [Name], Director / Authorised Signatory who signed the cheque, [address]

Subject: Legal notice for dishonour of Cheque No. [number] dated [date] for ₹[amount]

Sir/Madam,

Under instructions from and on behalf of my client, [name of payee], [address] (hereinafter “my client”), I hereby serve upon you the following legal notice:

1. That Noticee No. 1, acting through Noticees No. 2 and 3, [describe the transaction, e.g. “availed services / purchased goods / took a loan”] from my client, and a sum of ₹[amount] is legally due and payable by Noticee No. 1 to my client.
2. That in discharge of this liability, Noticee No. 1 issued Cheque No. [number] dated [date] for ₹[amount in figures] (Rupees [amount in words] only), drawn on [bank name], [branch], signed by Noticee No. 3 as its authorised signatory, in favour of my client.
3. That my client presented the said cheque through [bank and branch] on [date]. It was returned unpaid with the remark “[reason]” vide return memo dated [date], received by my client on [date].
4. That Noticees No. 2 and 3 are in charge of and responsible to Noticee No. 1 for the conduct of its business, and are liable along with Noticee No. 1 under Section 141 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
5. That my client hereby calls upon you to pay the said cheque amount of ₹[exact cheque amount] (Rupees [amount in words] only) within 15 (fifteen) days of receipt of this notice.
6. That if you fail to make the said payment, my client shall initiate criminal proceedings against all of you under Sections 138, 141 and 142 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, entirely at your risk as to costs and consequences.

[Signature]
[Name of Advocate], Advocate
Enrolment No. [number]
[Office address, phone, email]

Note: The Supreme Court held in Krishna Texport & Capital Markets v. Ila A. Agrawal (2015) that a notice to the company is sufficient to prosecute its directors along with it, but naming them in the notice is a sensible precaution. The company itself must always be made a party (Aneeta Hada v. Godfather Travels & Tours, 2012).

Format 4: Cheque Bounce Notice Without a Lawyer (Sent by the Payee Personally)

The law does not require an advocate. Use this short format if you are sending the notice yourself.

NOTICE UNDER SECTION 138 OF THE NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS ACT, 1881

Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

From:
[Your full name]
[Your address]
Mobile: [number] | Email: [email]

To:
[Drawer’s full name]
[Drawer’s address]

Subject: Demand for payment of dishonoured Cheque No. [number] dated [date] for ₹[amount]

I, [your name], hereby give you notice as follows:

1. You issued Cheque No. [number] dated [date] for ₹[amount in figures] (Rupees [amount in words] only), drawn on [bank and branch], in my favour towards [reason, e.g. repayment of loan taken on (date) / payment for goods supplied].
2. I deposited the cheque in my bank account with [bank and branch] on [date]. It was returned unpaid with the remark “[reason]” by return memo dated [date], which I received on [date].
3. I hereby demand that you pay me the cheque amount of ₹[exact cheque amount] (Rupees [amount in words] only) within 15 days of receiving this notice.
4. If you fail to pay within this time, I will file a criminal complaint against you under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, at your risk as to costs and consequences.

[Your signature]
[Your name]

Format 5: Cheque Bounce Legal Notice Format in Hindi

Many drawers and payees prefer Hindi. The notice is equally valid in Hindi or any other language, provided it contains all the required details.

परक्राम्य लिखत अधिनियम, 1881 की धारा 138 के अंतर्गत कानूनी नोटिस

प्रेषण का माध्यम: रजिस्टर्ड डाक ए.डी. / स्पीड पोस्ट / ईमेल / व्हाट्सऐप

दिनांक: [दिन/माह/वर्ष]

सेवा में,
श्री/श्रीमती [चेक जारी करने वाले का पूरा नाम]
पुत्र/पुत्री/पत्नी [पिता या पति का नाम]
[पूरा पता]

विषय: चेक संख्या [संख्या] दिनांक [तारीख] राशि ₹[राशि] के अनादरण (बाउंस) के संबंध में कानूनी नोटिस

महोदय/महोदया,

मैं अपने मुवक्किल श्री/श्रीमती [भुगतान पाने वाले का नाम], निवासी [पता] (जिन्हें आगे “मेरे मुवक्किल” कहा गया है) के निर्देश पर और उनकी ओर से आपको निम्नलिखित कानूनी नोटिस देता/देती हूँ:

1. यह कि आपने दिनांक [तारीख] को मेरे मुवक्किल से ₹[राशि] [ऋण के रूप में / माल या सेवा के भुगतान हेतु] प्राप्त किए थे, और यह राशि आप पर कानूनी रूप से देय है।
2. यह कि उक्त देनदारी के भुगतान हेतु आपने [बैंक का नाम], [शाखा] पर आहरित चेक संख्या [संख्या] दिनांक [तारीख], राशि ₹[राशि अंकों में] (रुपये [राशि शब्दों में] मात्र) मेरे मुवक्किल के पक्ष में जारी किया।
3. यह कि मेरे मुवक्किल ने उक्त चेक को दिनांक [तारीख] को अपने बैंक [बैंक और शाखा] में भुगतान हेतु प्रस्तुत किया, जो “[कारण, जैसे अपर्याप्त निधि]” टिप्पणी के साथ रिटर्न मेमो दिनांक [तारीख] द्वारा बिना भुगतान लौटा दिया गया, जिसकी सूचना मेरे मुवक्किल को दिनांक [तारीख] को प्राप्त हुई।
4. यह कि उक्त चेक का अनादरण परक्राम्य लिखत अधिनियम, 1881 की धारा 138 के अंतर्गत दंडनीय अपराध है।
5. अतः इस नोटिस के माध्यम से आपसे माँग की जाती है कि आप इस नोटिस की प्राप्ति के 15 (पंद्रह) दिनों के भीतर चेक की राशि ₹[चेक की सटीक राशि] (रुपये [राशि शब्दों में] मात्र) मेरे मुवक्किल को अदा करें।
6. यह कि यदि आप निर्धारित अवधि में उक्त भुगतान करने में विफल रहते हैं, तो मेरे मुवक्किल आपके विरुद्ध परक्राम्य लिखत अधिनियम, 1881 की धारा 138 सहपठित धारा 142 के अंतर्गत आपराधिक कार्यवाही प्रारंभ करने के लिए बाध्य होंगे, जिसके समस्त खर्च और परिणामों के लिए आप स्वयं उत्तरदायी होंगे।

इस नोटिस की एक प्रति मेरे कार्यालय में अभिलेख हेतु सुरक्षित रखी गई है।

[हस्ताक्षर]
[अधिवक्ता का नाम], अधिवक्ता
नामांकन संख्या: [संख्या]
[कार्यालय का पता, फ़ोन, ईमेल]

Format 6: Reply to a Cheque Bounce Legal Notice (For the Drawer)

If you have received a notice and dispute the debt, a reply records your defence early. Pay within 15 days if the amount is genuinely due, because a reply does not stop a complaint.

REPLY TO LEGAL NOTICE DATED [DATE] UNDER SECTION 138 OF THE NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS ACT, 1881

Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

To,
[Name of advocate who sent the notice / payee]
[Address]

Subject: Reply to your notice dated [date] regarding Cheque No. [number] dated [date] for ₹[amount]

Sir/Madam,

Under instructions from my client, [name of drawer], [address], I reply to your notice as follows:

1. That the contents of your notice are denied, except what is specifically admitted below.
2. That my client [state the true facts, e.g. “had already repaid the entire amount on (date) through bank transfer (reference no.)” / “issued the cheque only as security for a transaction that never took place” / “never owed any amount to your client”].
3. That there was no legally enforceable debt or liability on the date of presentation of the cheque, and the cheque has been misused by your client.
4. That my client is therefore not liable to pay the amount demanded, and any proceedings initiated by your client shall be defended at your client’s risk as to costs and consequences.
5. That my client reserves the right to take appropriate legal action against your client for misuse of the cheque.

[Signature]
[Name of Advocate], Advocate
Enrolment No. [number]
[Office address, phone, email]

Important: Write only facts you can prove with documents. The court presumes under Section 139 of the NI Act that a cheque was issued for a legally enforceable debt, and the drawer must rebut this on a balance of probabilities (Basalingappa v. Mudibasappa, 2019).

Clause-by-Clause Explanation of the Format

Each clause in the format serves a legal purpose. Knowing why helps you adapt the format without making it defective.

Worked Example: Filling In the Format Correctly

This example shows Format 2 filled in with real details.

Meera Textiles, a supplier in Surat, delivers fabric worth ₹3,40,000 to Kapoor Garments in Delhi under Invoice No. MT/245 dated 2 September 2026. Kapoor Garments issues Cheque No. 001122 dated 15 September 2026 for ₹3,40,000.

The notice is sent on 6 October 2026, within 30 days of 25 September 2026. The demand paragraph mentions only ₹3,40,000, so the notice complies with Kaveri Plastics. Because the cheque was deposited in Surat, a complaint can later be filed before the Magistrate in Surat under Section 142(2)(a) of the NI Act.

Documents to Attach or Keep Ready

The notice itself needs no attachments, but you must keep these documents ready for the complaint.

• Original dishonoured cheque
• Original cheque return memo
• Signed office copy of the notice
• Postal receipts, tracking reports and AD card or returned envelope
• Email or WhatsApp delivery proof, with a certificate under Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (earlier Section 65B, Indian Evidence Act)
• Proof of the debt: invoices, agreements, bank transfers, ledger entries, messages
• For a company or firm: board resolution or authority letter for the person sending the notice

Cost: There is no court fee for a notice. You pay only postage if you send it yourself, or an advocate’s drafting fee, which varies by city and experience.

Common Mistakes When Using a Cheque Bounce Notice Format

Most defective notices come from copying a template without adapting it carefully.

• Wrong amount. The demand must match the cheque exactly (Kaveri Plastics, 2025).
• Combining interest with the cheque amount into one total demand.
• Leaving template placeholders unfilled, such as “[date]” or “[bank]”.
• Giving fewer than 15 days or saying “15 days from the date of this notice” instead of “from receipt”.
• Wrong drawer. For a joint account, only the person who signed the cheque can be prosecuted (Aparna A. Shah v. Sheth Developers, 2013).
• Omitting the company when a company cheque has bounced.
• Missing the 30-day deadline because the format took too long to finalise.
• Not signing or dating the notice.

Key Court Rulings on the Format of the Notice

FAQs

1. Is there a fixed format for a cheque bounce legal notice?
No. Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 does not prescribe a format. The notice only has to be in writing, identify the cheque, and demand payment of the exact cheque amount within 15 days of receipt. Using a structured format like the ones on this page helps make sure no required detail is missed.

2. Can I download and use a cheque bounce notice format without a lawyer?
Yes. You can fill in a format yourself and send it in your own name, because the law does not require an advocate. Fill in every placeholder, check the amount against the cheque, and sign and date it. For high-value or company cheques, having an advocate review the notice reduces the risk of a costly mistake.

3. Can the cheque bounce notice be written in Hindi?
Yes. The NI Act does not require any particular language. A notice in Hindi or any other language is valid if it contains all the required details, including the exact cheque amount and the 15-day demand. If the matter goes to court, you may need a translation depending on the court’s language.

4. Should I mention interest in the cheque bounce notice?
You may, but only separately. In Kaveri Plastics v. Mahdoom Bawa Bahrudeen Noorul (2025), the Supreme Court held that the notice must demand the exact cheque amount, while interest, notice charges or costs can be mentioned separately. Never combine them into a single total demand, as that can make the notice invalid.

5. What if I made a mistake in the notice amount?
If you are still within 30 days of receiving the return memo, send a fresh, corrected notice immediately. After 30 days, the defective notice cannot usually be cured. If the cheque is still within its 3-month validity, you can re-present it and send a new notice after the next dishonour.

6. To whom should the notice be addressed for a company cheque?
Address it to the company at its registered office, through its managing director or authorised signatory. You can also name the directors in charge and the person who signed the cheque. The company itself must be a party, because directors cannot be prosecuted under Section 141 without the company being made an accused.

7. Can I send the same format by email or WhatsApp?
Yes. The Allahabad High Court held in Rajendra v. State of U.P. (2024) that a notice sent by email or WhatsApp is valid under the Information Technology Act. Send a signed PDF of the same notice, and also send it by registered post or speed post for stronger proof of service.

8. How do I reply to a cheque bounce legal notice?
If the debt is genuine, pay the cheque amount within 15 days of receiving the notice to avoid prosecution. If you dispute the debt, send a written reply through an advocate stating the true facts, supported by documents such as payment receipts. A reply does not stop the payee from filing a complaint.

9. Does the notice need to be on stamp paper or notarised?
No. A cheque bounce legal notice does not need stamp paper or notarisation. It is usually printed on an advocate’s letterhead or plain paper and signed. Notarised affidavits are needed later, when filing the complaint and giving evidence, not for the notice.

10. How many days does the drawer get in the notice format?
15 days from receipt of the notice. Clause (c) of the proviso to Section 138 gives the drawer 15 days after receiving the notice to pay. The format should say “within 15 days of receipt of this notice”, not “within 15 days from the date of this notice”.

Conclusion

A cheque bounce legal notice format is only as good as the details you fill in. Choose the format that matches your situation, state the exact cheque amount in figures and words, give 15 days from receipt, keep interest and charges in a separate paragraph, and send the notice within 30 days of receiving the return memo. Keep every receipt and delivery report for your complaint. For advice on your specific situation, consult a qualified advocate.

Disclaimer: This article and the sample formats are general legal information for awareness and are not legal advice. Each format must be adapted to your specific facts. Laws and procedures may change. Please consult a qualified advocate before sending a notice or taking any legal action.