The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
§85 — Cheque payable to order
[(1)] Where a cheque payable to order purports to be endorsed by or on behalf of the payee, the drawee is discharged by payment in due course. [(2) Where a cheque is originally expressed to be payable to bearer, the drawee is discharged by payment in due course to the bearer thereof, notwithstanding any endorsement whether in full or in blank appearing thereon, and notwithstanding that any such endorsement pu rports to restrict or exclude further negotiation.]