Even If Someone Else Fills The Details On Your Cheque, You Will Be Responsible, Says Supreme Court

According to a Supreme Court ruling, even if someone else fills out the details on a cheque, the drawer is still responsible. A two-judge panel composed of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna made the statement while granting an appeal in a case involving a bounced check, reported LiveLaw.

The court stated that a handwriting expert's conclusion that the drawer did not fill the cheque could not be used to invalidate the signing of a check.

The Delhi High Court authorised the accused in the case to hire a handwriting expert to check whether the information was written in his hand after he admitted to giving a payee a blank signed check.

The court underlined that unless it is proven that the check was issued for the payment of a debt or the discharge of liability, the drawer who signs the cheque and yields to the payee is presumed to be accountable.

"For such a determination, the fact that the details in the cheque have been filled up not by the drawer but by some other person would be immaterial," the court stated.