[Repealed by Act 12 of 1927]
Whereas it is expedient to make provision in connection with the present war with respect to bills of exchange payable outside British India; It is hereby enacted as follows:
(1) This Act may be called the Indian Bills of Exchange Act, 1916.
(2) It shall be in force during the continuance of the present war, and for a period of six months thereafter.
2. Delay in presentment of a bill for1 [acceptance or] payment due to war. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, or in any other enactment for the time being in force, delay in the presentment for 2[acceptance or] payment of a bill of exchange, where the proper place for 3[acceptance or] payment is outside British India, is excused if the delay is, or has been, due either directly or indirectly to circumstances arising out of the present war, or to the impracticability, owing to similar circumstances, of transmitting the bill to the place of 4[acceptance or] payment with reasonable safety.
Where, in any suit or other proceeding founded upon a bill of exchange payable outside British India, there is reason to believe that the bill has been lost, and that the loss can reasonably by presumption to be due either directly or indirectly to circumstances arising out of the present war, the Court may allow proof of the bill to be given by means of a copy thereof certified by a notary public, or by means of such other evidence as the Court thinks reasonable under the circumstances, and may pass a decree thereon notwithstanding any rule of law of the place where the bill is made payable:
Provided that such indemnity be given against the claims of other persons as the Court may require.
1. Inserted by Act 9 of 1917, Section 2. [See Section 1(2) of Act 14 of 1916].
2. Inserted by Act 9 of 1917, Section 2. [See Section 1(2) of Act 14 of 1916].
3. Inserted by Act 9 of 1917, Section 2. [See Section 1(2) of Act 14 of 1916].
4. Inserted by Act 9 of 1917, Section 2. [See Section 1(2) of Act 14 of 1916].