Received a legal notice? How to reply in India — is a reply compulsory, the time limit, what to write, cheque bounce (NI Act s.138) 15 days, landlord / bank / Government notices, and mistakes to avoid (2026)
Plain guide for anyone who has received a legal notice by post, courier, email or WhatsApp: what a legal notice is and is not, whether you must reply, how much time you really have, special notices where the deadline matters (cheque bounce, eviction, bank SARFAESI, Government), how a reply is usually written and sent, and common mistakes. Educational only — not legal advice. Adhiwakta does not draft or send replies or appear for anyone.
WhatsApp opens with your question already written. You just tap send.
First, stay calm — a notice is not a court case
A legal notice is a letter, usually sent through an advocate, that states a claim or demand (money, possession, stopping some act) and warns that legal action may follow. It is not a court order, summons or FIR, and by itself it does not make you guilty or liable. Check who sent it, on whose behalf, the date you actually received it, and what exactly is demanded. Keep the envelope, courier slip, email or WhatsApp message — the date of receipt can matter later.
Is a reply compulsory?
There is no general law that forces you to reply to every legal notice. But silence can be used against you later — the other side may say you never denied the claim. A short, careful reply that denies wrong facts and states your side creates a record in your favour. Do not ignore a notice that is actually a court summons, a police notice (for example BNSS s.35, old CrPC 41A) or a tax / government order — those have their own procedure and deadlines.
Is your situation a little different? Send your question on WhatsApp.
Write in Hindi or English · general guidance, not legal advice
How much time do you have?
The ‘reply within 7 / 15 / 30 days’ written in a private notice is the sender’s demand, not a law. Still, replying within that time is wise. Some notices carry legal deadlines: in cheque bounce, the drawer must pay within 15 days of receiving the demand notice, or the offence under NI Act s.138 is complete and a complaint can follow; a month-to-month tenancy can be ended by 15 days’ notice (TPA s.106); a bank SARFAESI notice under s.13(2) gives 60 days, and objections can be raised under s.13(3A). A notice does not stop or extend the limitation period for your own claims.
Cheque bounce notice — the most time-sensitive
If the notice is under NI Act s.138, read the cheque number, amount and dishonour date. If the money is genuinely owed, paying within 15 days of receipt ends the matter before any offence arises. If you dispute it (security cheque, debt already paid, cheque misused, wrong amount), reply in writing within those 15 days explaining why, and keep proof. The reply does not stop a complaint, but it records your defence from the start.
What a reply usually contains
Your name and address; the date and reference of the notice; a statement that each allegation is denied unless specifically admitted; your version of facts, point by point (paragraph-wise); documents you rely on (agreements, receipts, bank statements, chats); any counter-claim or demand you have; and a line reserving your rights to take further action. Keep it factual and polite — no abuse, threats or admissions you are not sure about. Many people take an independent advocate’s help to draft it, but you can also reply yourself.
How to send it and keep proof
Send the reply to the sender (and the advocate who issued the notice) by Speed Post / registered post with acknowledgement, and also by email if an email address is given. Keep a signed copy, postal receipts, tracking print-outs and delivery proof. If the notice came on WhatsApp or email, reply on the same channel too. Never send original documents — only copies.
Special senders — landlord, bank, employer, Government
Landlord / eviction notice: check the tenancy agreement, rent receipts and the State rent law before replying. Bank or loan recovery notice: check the loan account statement; SARFAESI and DRT routes have strict timelines. Employer notice (show cause, recovery of bond): reply within the time given in the service rules. If you want to sue the Government or a public officer, CPC s.80 needs two months’ prior notice — that is a notice you send, not one you reply to. Consumer complaints do not need a prior legal notice, but a notice can help show you tried to settle.
Mistakes to avoid
Do not admit liability in panic or sign a fresh undertaking without reading it; do not pay cash without receipt; do not make threats or defamatory statements in the reply (defamation is BNS s.356, old IPC 499 / 500); do not refuse delivery to ‘avoid’ the notice — refusal can be treated as service; and do not ignore it if the deadline relates to a cheque, a tenancy or a bank. If you receive court summons later, appear or arrange representation on the date.
How Adhiwakta can help
We do not draft or send replies, contact the other side, or appear in any court. Adhiwakta is a facilitation platform, not a law firm. We do not file cases, appear before any authority, or promise any result. Use Ask Adhiwakta to describe your situation for general guidance from an independent advocate, or start with the AI helper to organise your facts and papers. Educational only — not formal legal advice.
Have a related question?
Frequently asked questions
- Is it compulsory to reply to a legal notice in India?
- No general law makes a reply compulsory. But a short, factual reply denying wrong claims is usually wise, because silence may be used against you later. Court summons, police notices and tax / government orders are different and must not be ignored.
- What is the time limit to reply to a legal notice?
- The 7, 15 or 30 days written in a private notice is the sender’s demand, not a law. Some notices have legal deadlines — for a cheque bounce notice the drawer has 15 days from receipt to pay (NI Act s.138), and a SARFAESI s.13(2) bank notice gives 60 days.
- Can I reply to a legal notice myself without an advocate?
- Yes. A reply can be sent by you personally. Many people take an independent advocate’s help to draft it, especially for cheque bounce, property, bank or employment matters.
- What happens if I do not reply to a legal notice?
- Nothing happens automatically. The sender may file a case, and your silence may be cited against you. In a cheque bounce matter, not paying within 15 days of receipt allows a complaint under NI Act s.138.
- Is a legal notice on WhatsApp or email valid?
- Notices are increasingly sent and accepted by email and WhatsApp, and the date you received it can matter. Treat it seriously, keep a screenshot with the date, and reply on the same channel as well as by post.
- How should I send my reply?
- By Speed Post / registered post with acknowledgement to the sender and their advocate, and by email if given. Keep a signed copy, receipts and delivery proof. Send only copies of documents, never originals.
Share Adhiwakta with someone who needs it
Send this page on WhatsApp — legal information in Hindi & English.