Validity of cheques to reduce from 6 to 3 months

The government today said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to reduce the validity of cheques and bank drafts from the present six months to three months beginning next fiscal.

The RBI has advised that with effect from April 1, 2012, banks should not make payments against cheques, drafts, pay orders or banker's cheques if they are presented after the period of three months from date of issue, the Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha yesterday.

"It was reported to Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) that some persons are taking undue advantage of the practice of banks of making payment of cheques or draft presented within a period of six months from the date of the instrument as these instruments are being circulated in the market like cash for six months," he said.

Subsequently, CEIB constituted an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on 'Street Financing' which recommended reducing the validity period of the cheques or drafts, he added.

In another reply, Meena said the quantum of borrowings from all multilateral and bilateral donors as on October 31, 2011 is Rs 3,19,536.23 crore.

Replying to another query, he said out of 105 recommendations made by the Khandelwal Committee on HR issues of public sector banks, 56 suggestions have been forwarded to the banks for implementation.

While further deliberations are required for 49 recommendations, he said.