धारा 22

Section 22 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 states that 'every instrument must be accepted within twenty-four hours after it has been presented to the drawee for acceptance, and if the drawee is a bank or a firm of bankers, the acceptance must be made within the banking hours of the day on which the instrument is presented. If the drawee is not a bank or a firm of bankers, the acceptance must be made within twenty-four hours after the instrument has been presented to the drawee for acceptance. If the instrument is presented for acceptance on a Sunday or a public holiday, the acceptance may be made on the next succeeding business day. The drawee may accept the instrument before it is presented for acceptance, and such acceptance is valid. The acceptance may be made by the drawee or by someone authorized by the drawee to accept it on their behalf.