The Bills of Lading Act, 2025

Purpose of the Act

The Act establishes legal provisions regarding bills of lading—key documents in shipping and trade—particularly focusing on the rights and liabilities of consignees and endorsees when property in the goods is transferred.

Key Provisions

· Transfer of Rights and Liabilities (Section 2):
All rights of suit and related liabilities in a bill of lading transfer to the consignee or endorsee when property in the goods passes to them.

· Protection of Carrier’s Rights (Section 3):
Certain rights remain protected, including:

o Stoppage in transit.

o Freight claims against original shipper.

o Liabilities arising from receipt of goods.

· Conclusive Evidence of Shipment (Section 4):
A bill of lading held by a bona fide holder for value serves as conclusive evidence of shipment—even if the goods weren’t actually shipped.
Exceptions apply in cases of fraud or where the holder had actual knowledge of the non-shipment.

· Government Oversight (Section 5):
The Central Government is empowered to issue directions to implement the Act's provisions effectively.

· Repeal and Continuity (Section 6):
Repeals the Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856, but preserves existing rights, actions, and references under the old law that aren’t inconsistent with the new Act.

Overall Impact

The Act modernizes and strengthens legal clarity around the transfer of goods via bills of lading—supporting commerce and protecting both carriers and consignees. It ensures that legal rights follow ownership of the goods and offers stronger safeguards against disputes over shipment documentation.

[Ministry of Law and Justice No. 18 of 2025 dated 24 July, 2025]

· Short title and commencement.

· Rights under bills of lading to vest in consignee or endorsee.

· Right of stoppage in transit or claims for freight not to be affected.

· Bill of lading in hands of consignee, etc., conclusive evidence of shipment as against master, etc.

· Power of Central Government to give directions.

· Repeal and savings.

An Act to make provisions for the transfer of rights of suit and all liabilities to the consignee named in a bill of lading and every endorsee of a bill of lading, to whom the property in the goods mentioned in the bill of lading shall pass, upon or by reason of a consignment or an endorsement, and for matters connected therewith or related thereto.

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 WHEREAS 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 WHEREAS 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.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

Short title and commencement.

1. (1) This Act may be called the Bills of Lading Act, 2025.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

Rights under bills of lading to vest in consignee or endorsee.

2. Every consignee of goods named in a bill of lading and every endorsee of a bill of lading, to whom the property in the goods therein mentioned shall pass, upon or by reason of such consignment or endorsement, shall have transferred to and vested in him all rights of suit, and be subject to the same liabilities in respect of such goods as if the contract contained in the bill of lading had been made with such consignee or endorsee.

Right of stoppage in transit or claims for freight not to be affected.

3. Nothing contained in this Act shall prejudice or affect––

a) any right of stoppage in transit; or

b) any right to claim freight against the original shipper or owner; or

c) any liability of the consignee or endorsee by reason or in consequence of his being such consignee or endorsee, or of his receipt of the goods by reason or in consequence of such consignment or endorsement.

Bill of lading in hands of consignee, etc., conclusive evidence of shipment as against master, etc.

4. (1) Every bill of lading in the hands of a consignee or endorsee for valuable consideration, representing goods to have been shipped on board a vessel, shall be conclusive evidence of such shipment as, against the master or other person signing the same, notwithstanding that such goods or some part thereof may not have been so shipped:

Provided that the master or other person so signing may exonerate himself in respect of such misrepresentation, by showing that it was caused without any default on his part, and wholly by the fraud of the shipper, or of the holder, or some person under whom the holder claims.

(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply where the holder of the bill of lading shall have had actual notice at the time of receiving such bill of lading that the goods had not been laden on board.

Power of Central Government to give directions.

5. The Central Government may give such directions, as it may deem necessary, for carrying out all or any of the provisions of this Act.

Repeal and savings.

6. (1) The Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856 is hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Act referred to in sub-section (1), it shall not affect,––

a) the previous operation of the Act so repealed or anything done or any action taken or purported to have been or taken or suffered thereunder under the Act so repealed; or

b) any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under the Act so repealed; or

c) the operation of any rule, notification, order, notice or direction issued, or exemption granted thereunder, in so far as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, and shall be in force until it is repealed or superseded under the corresponding provisions of this Act; or

d) any penalty incurred in respect of any contravention under the Act so repealed; or

e) any proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty as aforesaid, and any such proceeding or remedy may be instituted, continued or enforced, and any such penalty may be imposed as if that Act had not been repealed;

f) the reference made to the repealed Act under any other legislation, rule, order, or any other legal instrument and any such reference shall, in so far as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, be construed as a reference to this Act or its corresponding provisions.

(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (2), the provisions of section 6 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 shall apply with regard to the effect of repeal.