Section 40, NI Act: Discharge of indorser's liability

40. Discharge of indorser's liability.

Where the holder of a negotiable instrument, without the consent of the indorser, destroys or impairs the indorser's remedy against a prior party, the indorser is discharged from liability to the holder to the same extent as if the instrument had been paid at maturity. Illustration A is the holder of a bill of exchange made payable to the order of B, which contains the following indorsements in blank:-- First indorsement, "B". Second indorsement, "Peter Williams". Third indorsement, "Wright & Co". Fourth indorsement. "John Rozario". This bill A puts in suit against John Rozario and strikes out, without John Rozario's consent, the indorsements by Peter Williams and Wright & Co. A is not entitled to recover anything from John Rozario.