Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
43. Negotiable instrument made, etc. without consideration
A negotiable instrument made, drawn, accepted, endorsed, or
transferred without consideration, or for a consideration which fails, creates
no obligation of payment between the parties to the transaction. But if any
such party has transferred the instrument with or without endorsement to a
holder for a consideration, such holder, and every subsequent holder deriving
title from him, may recover the amount due on such instrument from the
transferor for consideration or any prior party thereto.
Exception I: No party for whose accommodation a negotiable
instrument has been made, drawn, accepted or endorsed can, if he has paid the
amount thereof, recover thereon such amount from any person who became a party
to such instrument for his accommodation.
Exception II: No party to the instrument who has induced any
other party to make draw, accept, endorse or transfer the same to him for a
consideration which he has failed to pay or perform in full shall recover
therein an amount exceeding the value of the consideration (if any) which he
has actually paid or performed.