[11th April, 1956]
An Act to amend the law relating to Bills of Lading
Preamble.- Whereas by the custom of merchants a bill of lading of goods being transferable by endorsement, the property in the goods may thereby pass to the endorsee, but nevertheless all rights in respect of the contract contained in the bill of lading continue in the original shipper or owner, and it is expedient that such rights should pass with the property; And whereas it frequently happens that the goods in respect of which bills of lading purport to be signed have not been laden on board, and it is proper that such bills of lading in the hands of a bona fide holder for value should not be questioned by the master or other person signing the same, on the ground of the goods not having been laden as aforesaid, it is enacted as follows :
This Act is based on the Bills of Lading Act, 1855 (18 and 19 Vict. c. 111), Act IX of 1856 has been declared to be in force in the whole of British India, except the Scheduled Districts, by the Laws Local Extent Act (15 of 1874), section 3.
It has been declared by notification under S.3(a) of the Scheduled Districts Act (14 of 1874), to be in force in the following Scheduled Districts :
West Jalpaiguri
See Gazette of India
1881. Pt. I., p. 74.
The Districts of Hazaribagh, Lohardaga (now the Ranchi District); (See Calcutta Gazette 1899, Pt. 1, p. 44) and Manbhum, and Pargana Dalbhum and the Kolhan in the District of Singbhum.
See Gazette of India
1881, Pt. I., p.504.
Assam (except the North Lushai Hills)
See Gazette of India
1897, Pt. I., p.29.
This Act has been extended to the new Provinces and Merged States by the Merged States (Laws) Act (1949) (50 of 1949), S.3 (1-1-1950) and to the States of Manipur, Tripura and Vindhya Pradesh by the Union Territories (Laws) Act, 1950 (30 of 1950), S.3 (16-4-1950). Manipur and Tripura are States now (see Act 81 of 1971) and Vindhya Pradesh forms part of the State of Madhya Pradesh (See Act 37 of 1936).
The Act has now been extended to the Union territory of Pondicherry, by the Pondicherry (Extension of Laws) Act. 1968 (26 of 1968). S.3(1) and Sch., Pt.I [w.e.f. 18-12-1969.]